February 19, 2021

“I was very happy as a teenager, I hadn’t gotten married and I loved embroidery so I used to make hats, socks and other things. I then got married, listening to the people around me. We didn’t know each other so it was an arranged marriage, but we loved each other dearly after a while. He hadn’t joined the military yet, so he had to go away after three months when we got married, and stayed there for two years. During those two years he only visited back two times because they weren’t flexible like they are now back then. It was very difficult for me because I was a newly married woman and I didn’t know anyone because I had come from another village. I was a smart girl, I did all of my work, and working in the village could be difficult. My mother in law had little kids and I had to take care of them as well. That’s how we used to live”.

“After my husband decided to move houses, we started a new life. We didn’t have anything to take with us. My father in law had said that we can have the house after his passing, but my husband didn’t accept it and decided to work for a home because he thought that the other kids deserved it more. We both started working, I was doing embroidery and selling clothing items. I have never been afraid of time until now. I have gotten old now and I am afraid that my legs will give in soon. Once you’re old, you will get sick easily. I now can’t see well, I have high cholesterol, and have many other illnesses. I wish I could go outside of the country for treatment, but I can’t. If I get sick and unable to move, there will be no one to help my husband. We really don’t have anyone except for ourselves. We didn’t have any children and I cry and pray every night asking why we couldn’t have any children. That’s the worst thing in my life”.