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This is my favourite picture of my family. It’s from my 5th birthday party. Mom and dad threw me a big party!
The picture was taken before my parents got Divorced.
Now, I live with mom. I don’t see my dad much anymore. Mom says that he’s busy.
But he does send me gifts sometimes.
When I feel sad, I look at this picture of all three of us, happy together. It makes me feel better.
But I keep this picture hidden under my pillow.
That’s because most of our pictures together get torn or disappear. And I notice it’s always dad whose missing from the pictures.
And whenever I ask who cut these pictures? My mom gets upset.
So, I now hide this only picture of me with both my mom and dad.
But the other day, when I came home from school, I couldn’t find the picture.
I looked everywhere! I mean everywhere. But I still couldn’t find it!
I ran to my mum, But then I paused. She didn’t know about this picture and I don’t want to upset her.
“What’s the matter, Amna?” she asked. “Did anyone go near my bed?”, I asked. “ Yes, Salma changed your bedsheets in the morning”, she replied.
Oh No! I thought as tears came to my eyes. I turned to go back. “Everything ok, Amna?, my mom asked as she followed me.
“Nothing mom” , I mumbled. “ just that...there was a photo....... our photo....and now it’s gone! Like all others!”
My mom looked at the floor, confused and picks up something, �Is this the picture?�, she asked.
“ YESSS MAMA!” I screamed with excitement and hugged her.
“This is the only picture I have with all of us together”, I told her. “all other photos of us are ruined.”
My mom looked at me with tears in her eyes, “You can keep this picture Amna� , she said while giving me a big hug.
We later framed the picture on my bedroom wall.
A Picture Close To My Heart by Aliya Fatima Published by Oxford University Press www.oup.com.pk Š Aliya Fatima
The moral right of the author has been asserted. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Printed in Pakistan 1st Edition 2020, ISBN 0-9000000-0-0 Designed & Edited by: Aliya Fatima, Oxford Publisher No. 38, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi-74900, Pakistan Email: oup.pk@oup.com Also available as an ebook for major ebook vendors
When Amna’s parents got divorced, she kept a picture of them together hidden under her pillow but she worries that the picture may disappear just like all other photos of them together. The story acknowledges the emotional challenges children may feel when their parents divorce or separate and the importance to talk things through if you are missing someone. It helps to reassure children that family support and love will help them through the most challenging times.
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