Late Happiness

Dark fate knocked on the door twice in a single day: as Bayna momo laid her two beloved ones into the earth, it felt as though not only the sun of that day, but the sun of her entire life had set. The yard fell silent and desolate, the tandoor grew cold, and even the wooden platform by the door lay quiet, as if it too had lost its owner. Once, the sound of a man’s footsteps and her son’s cheerful laughter echoed through this yard. Now, Bayna momo was condemned to live among memories and restless loyalty.

People came and went, offering words of comfort, and then dispersed, each returning to their own concerns. Bayna momo was left alone, face to face with her solitude. At times, she would sit by the hearth, gazing far into the distance, as if waiting for someone from the past to return.

Zamon the horse keeper still walked about the village with pride. Not a trace of regret could be seen in his eyes. Yet in the hearts of the people, heavy words toward him were ripening; all the elderly women of the village cursed him silently from within. Before long, Zamon’s affairs began to fail: all his horses died in a single day, his trade collapsed, and his reputation fell to the ground. People turned away from him. It was as if an invisible curse followed him wherever he went.

One day, Bayna momo went to the market. There, she noticed a young man working as a cart driver. There was a calmness in his face, mixed with a quiet sorrow.

“Thank you, my child,” she said involuntarily.

“Your voice… your gentle voice and your words reminded me of my mother…” he replied, his eyes filling with tears.

From that day on, the yard came back to life. Tea would boil on the platform, the smell of fresh bread would rise from the tandoor, and in the evenings, the quiet conversations of two souls would fill the courtyard. Bayna momo straightened her back, and light returned to her eyes. She no longer thought of the past, but began to think of tomorrow.

The wind blew again. But this time, it was not destructive—it was a warm breeze circling the yard.

Bayna momo finally understood: a human life is made of trials. Some fall while standing against the wind, while others rise again after it passes. Meaning had returned to her life—the happiness of being a mother once more.

Saparboyeva Laylo Xajibay qizi (born in 2010) is a student of the Ogahiy School of Creativity and a young writer.

She began her creative journey in primary school by writing poetry. After a certain break, she returned to literature and is currently working in the field of prose. Her dedication piece titled “I live in Your Heart” was published in the newspaper “Xiva Tongi”.

Laylo actively participates in scientific and practical conferences, where she expresses her ideas and perspectives on literature and creative thinking. In addition, she writes short stories and fanfiction, which she shares on online platforms.

Her works mainly focus on human emotions, inner experiences, and observations of life. In the future, she aims to further develop her creative potential and become an internationally recognized writer.