Sofia

By Ahmed Abdul Kadhim Alasawi

The events of this novel take place in London and Manchester. Sofia tells her life story to Victoria, a young girl, as they stand on Westminster Bridge in the heart of the vibrant city of London. Sofia’s life story starts after Big Ben of sound announcing her events, as a child in primary school to her adolescent years, and then becoming a medical student at Queen Mary University while battling breast cancer. Her journey in the past explains the trials and the hell she faced after going through the surgery of eradication. Sofia had to continue her studies if she wanted to become a doctor, but first she’d have to learn to be emotionally stronger to be able to move forward. Sofia spent time researching the growth of human organs, therefore, she wrote a medicine research about that, for it she would to find someone to work with her and that what happened when met with professor Anna scientist and director of the Medical Research Center (MRC) at Manchester University to discuss her findings and to see if there was a possibility to research them in reality. Anna agreed sharing that with Sofia and could be beneficial to the world even though it was so complex topic. Victoria is taken in with Sofia’s story because her friend Jasmine has breast cancer but she refuses the surgery of eradication. Victoria hopes that Sofia’s inspiration can help to convince Jasmine to get surgery for survival. What if Jasmine still refuses eradication? Will she choose death? What will be the alternative if Sofia could convince her? Will Sofia and professor Anna’s medical research provide solutions to science? This is what the novel will tell us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9781398425774

Ahmed Abdul Kadhim Alasawi

Ahmed Abdul Kadhim Alasawi was born on April 28, 1974, in Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq. He grew up in Al Karrada, a district where different cultures and religions coexisted. He completed his primary, intermediate, and preparatory education in Al Karrada area, and earned his bachelor's degree in English literature from Al-Iraqia University. He is married and has three sisters and three brothers.

Book preview

Chapter 1

September 2001.

That is wonderful, woo I love it, Jasmine said.

Yeah, it is, Victoria said.

We will have fun tonight, Jasmine said.

Yeah we will enjoy!

Two girls were on tour.

What do you say if we go to theatre. There are party songs, Victoria said.

Okay, let’s go.

When they bought two tickets from the box office, then they found the party has just started, then they sat and Victoria said.

She is a great singer!

Yeah, how is she so great? I like it, the song it is so romantic! Jasmine said.

I’m so hungry, Jasmine.

Okay, Victoria after the party we will go to the restaurant. I’m hungry too.

After two hours of party, they came out of the theatre, Woo Victoria it is raining.

Yeah it is a beautiful view! And then they went to the restaurant, after eating they walked on street, while the rain falls on the land, at that time they didn’t use the umbrella although the sky was raining heavily.So they were walking on street and then Jasmine asked, What is your dream boy? A boy!

Victoria said, then she add What do you mean? Someone who loves and cares about you. That is my question Jasmine said. why not, Victoria answered, then add, and you? I wish I find someone who carries me and then fly around the world between the clouds and see all islands, oceans, seas, rivers, and forests. I want to see the ships sailing and I want see all the lovers and how they love each other and how they fall in love. I also want to see how they kiss each other!

What? That’s impossible, Victoria said.

I’m dreaming, Victoria. Is that illegal?

No, honey, we can dream but our dreams should be real.

Yeah, I know, Jasmine said.

The girls continue to walk and didn’t know where they were going while the rain falls on them. Victoria and Jasmine are 17 years old and they study in 12th preparatory. They are neighbours, and they’re friends for ten years when Victoria’s family came from another area.

They were walking on the street near the Thames rivet after the theatre and restaurant. when the rain became fast.

Oh no, no, Jasmine said.

What happened? Victoria asked.

My shoes are broken. Oh that is bad, I’m going to throw my shoes and will walk without shoes.

Me too. I will throw my shoes too, Victoria said.

No why would you do that, Jasmine said.

’Cause we are friends, honey. Therefore

They walked barefoot, while they were walking coquettishly Jasmine said, I would like to be in a relationship.

Oh really, Victoria said.

Yeah I would like that, what about you Victoria?

I-I…I think yeah.

Come on, Victoria, let’s go there.

Where?

There on the bridge? Okay let’s go, Victoria said.

I want to stay here – And then they stood under the lighting column – you see Victoria how perfect this place is.

Yeah, it is a wonderful place! But nobody’s here, just us! Victoria said.

Yeah, just us, I don’t know why I feel warm here, Jasmine said.

Yeah I’m feeling warm too.

Yes and my heart is so happy. Why? – Jasmine added – I do not know why we are feeling warm and happy! I want to dance.

What? Victoria said.

I want dancing, and then Jasmine started dancing, then Victoria joined Jasmine in dance, at the time the rain still falling, when they danced like doves!

Yeah, you do well, Jasmine said.

Oh no Iam not good in dance, Victoria said,

I’m listing to piano music, there one play on, I feel there violin, guitar and there one play on, Jasmine said. Victoria and Jasmine were dancing while their eyes were closed,

When Jasmine started humming with these words. I’m flying, I’m with him. I’m feeling with him too, but can’t see him, my heart sees him but not my eyes. Where is he now, where?

You see him? Victoria asked.

Yeah, yeah, I see him with my soul. I don’t see, I can’t see him, he touches me, kiss me, he’s hugging me Victoria, Jasmine said the words while she is dancing. At this time Victoria rose her dress while she is dancing and Jasmine too, they were barefoot while the rain falling on their body, and their hair and face! They loved the place on bridge under the lighting column, they were happy with their great time together, and they were happy while the rain made their clothes wet, they continued in dancing, while they were dancing Victoria also started humming, I smell love with rain I feel that love with air touch me and it enter across my body the love touching my heart it is moving with my blood! I’m feeling I’m smelling.

When will you come to me. When? Tell me. They continued in dancing, Victoria was dancing in front of Jasmine, they were imaging that their lovers dancing with them, Victoria’s hair and Jasmine’s hair touch each other, their hair flew with air and washed with rain, their dresses were rose unto their knee while they were danced.

I love the place Victoria.

We’re just here nobody else, Victoria said.

Yeah just us here, us with air, rain under the lighting.

I can’t wait, Victoria. I want him now.

Me too. I want him now; I can’t wait more of time.

You feel him? Jasmine asked.

Yeah I feel, I feel, I feel his eyelash touch my eyelash, my hand touches his face and his hand touch my face.

Yeah, Victoria. I smell him, I feel he inside me, his breath touches my cheek, his breath is warm, I can’t wait you, do not leave me, do not, I need you now. They were thinking that they were in an appointment with two boys.

When our dreams be real and see that by ourselves? Victoria asked.

They are stilling with their innocent imaginations dancing with their lovers. At that time and while they were dancing, one woman came and she stood up near the girls, but she did not care about them, she was wearing black raincoat it was long with belt on her waist, and she was wearing black long bot but she didn’t wear hat on her head. Her hair was long and black, and her look was so hard with strong eyes. Her age was around 44 years, she is tall, thin, her eyes are wide with long eyebrows, she was looking straight towards. Neither left nor right, just straight. The woman was standing up like an alone Queen in battlefield, in front her lots of enemies and her soldiers not with her, she know that she going to lose her battle but she does not want defeat and does not like to lose her battle even if she will die! The rain and air were moving her hair on her left, her right and her hair was flying around her face, her hair was as like tsunami rise and down, it was as like ocean waves hit everything stood up front her!

Hey, Victoria. See.

What?

The woman.

Okay. She’s just woman.

I know she is just a woman but look carefully.

Woo! She is so beautiful, but why she seems sad? Victoria asked.

Maybe she is waiting for her lover! Jasmine said.

I do not think so, Victoria said.

I am going to sing, Jasmine said.

Yeah, yeah, go head Jasmine. Jasmine singed, and Victoria was clapping while Jasmine sing. They were sing and dancing with clapping, they were happy while the rain falling, the woman did not care or watch what the girls do, she did not turn her eyes towards the girls at all! Then the woman went after 15 minutes of her arrive to the place. Jasmine and Victoria continued in dance then they went to way to their house, they walked barefoot on the street! So they have done a great time and they did agreement to come tomorrow once again.

Next day at a school. After they have finished the class Victoria said to Jasmine, Hurry up we have an appointment.

Okay. Let’s go.

The life means to them that it is love, imagination, warm with their heart sound! The time was at 6 pm, on this the season be the sun hides behind the atmosphere and behind the sky, no sun just clouds and bit of rain and showers. Let’s run up, Victoria said.

Why? Jasmine asked.

They are waiting for us.

Who are they? Jasmine asked.

Our lovers, honey.

Yeah. let’s run up.

They were running on street while the showers hit their eyes! They have decided already to go to the place as possible at night, Yeah, we’re here. Woo, see Jasmine how the place is wonderful!

Yeah it is.

I’m breathing, I’m imaging, I’m feeling, I’m flying with him… Jasmine said.

I’m breathing, I’m imaging, I’m feeling, I’m flying, I’m summing with love, I’m in his arms now! Victoria said.

Talk. Why you are silent, talk I’m listening, Jasmine said.

Hug me, kiss me, my mouth waiting for you and everything waiting you, Victoria said.

How is beauty if we imagine, how is beauty if we dream, how is beauty if we stay with my love forever, I want to drown in sea, I want sleep on his hand, I want to see his eyes every moment, Jasmine said.

I do not want the time to move if I’m with him, I do not want the rain to stop if I’m with him, I want live with him forever !

Their face did become redden because they were with real love! Their imagination was with love as like fire, they felt that their heart was cold and it was as like frozen and they were need love be as like fire to make their heart melting as snow melting under the sun! They spend time about three hours together and then they went to their house their laughs were with them to way to their house, they were so happy, and they thought that they were with them real lovers and real feel.

20 days later

That just a routine, do not worry, Jasmine said.

Okay, Victoria said.

Listen to me, that is good for our health and that early detection of breast cancer, so if they find something bad, they will give the medicine for fast cure, Jasmine said.

Okay, Victoria said.

Victoria was so worried about that but Jasmine not, and she was encouraging Victoria. They were received message of (National cancer institute) for early detection of breast cancer. And they to their way for visit the national cancer institute as like every woman and girl who lives in the city.

Hi, Victoria and Jasmine, said the doctor.

Hi, Jasmine said.

After they gave their full name, the doctor checked them. First the doctor checked Victoria and then Jasmine, the doctor checked them with her hand then she checked with mammogram.

Okay we are done, who is Victoria? The doctor asked.

I am Victoria.

Okay your check is negative, Dr said.

What does that mean? Victoria asked.

That means you do not have anything, Dr Said.

Thank you doctor, Victoria said.

You’re Jasmine? Doctor asked.

Yes, I am Jasmine.

I have seen that you have a tumour in your breasts, Dr said.

What, what do you mean? Jasmine asked.

That means you have cancer in your breasts and no worry you are lucky. It is small tumour, Dr said.

So what will I do? Jasmine asked.

In your status, you have two things to do. First, we will give you treatment of radiation, if that doesn’t work, we will compelled to eradication your breasts or you will die – Dr said and added – please next.

What, what, what does she means? Please Victoria I do not understand, Jasmine asked. She asked the question like a mad woman.

That mean you do not have anything just you need a simple medicine and then everything will be fine, Victoria said trying to make her friend keep quiet, and then they went while Jasmine was stunned of that, and Victoria was so sad for her best friend.

They were walking when Jasmine said, I do not feel in pain, I do not have anything, why I have cancer, why? Tell me, Victoria, please.

I can’t say anything. I can’t.

Jasmine was crying when talking to Victoria. Honey no worry, that is not bad that just nature check and you will take the medicine then you will be fine. Please do not cry. You’ll became tired. Please for me, stop crying, Victoria said.

I do not believe; I do not believe. I’m scare, Victoria. I’m so scared, please be on my side.

Oh honey I’m by your side now and I will not leave you alone. We are friends right honey

Yes we are friends.

Remember honey, our Lady Mary will be with you. She will not leave you forever do not care she side you okay do not care and do not cry. Your smile will come back and do not think about anything. You will cure, I’m sure ’cause our Lady Mary with you okay honey, Victoria said.

Okay, Jasmine said. One month later Jasmine took medicine with chemotherapy and atomic medicine but that did not work with her, so she need operation for eradication her breasts. The medicine with chemotherapy made Jasmine in menopause and her menstrual was stopped due to the medicine. Jasmine was helpless and Victoria felt in deficit she could not to do anything for her best friend and she was suffering when saw Jasmine lying in her bed. Jasmine can do operation for eradication her breasts and she will be well, but she did not do operation and she was saying when the doctor said to her, she need operation or she will die, she said to him I like to be under the land than live on the land. Maybe she was wrong or right but she thought if she live, she will suffer every day, Jasmine now with her sadness, all her dreams flew, Jasmine was talking with Victoria when she visited her at house, I love the die ’cause that better than I live with weakness. I want to die, I do not want to see life kill me every day if I lose my breasts.

Victoria stayed with Jasmine and she became care about her friend and she preferred to stay with her, So Victoria didn’t care about anything but just her friend. Victoria spend all her time with Jasmine sleep, wake up, watching Jasmine if she need something as drinking water or help her for eat but she wasn’t eat except a bit as like Jasmine’s statue, and give her some of pain killers but the killers useless with the disease.

Victoria?

Yes honey.

Help me with the pain killer me please Victoria.

Then Victoria put her hand on Jasmine’s body and then she said, Where is the pain hurting you?

All my body, every part hurts me.

Victoria thought that the pain was finding in one area, but the disease makes all the body in pain.

Where? Tell me, Victoria said.

All my body.

I can’t help you ’cause I’m not a doctor. I can’t do anything honey, I can’t.

Victoria I’m going to die please leave me just a few minutes please let me sleep. Jasmine was begging the pain for leave her while Victoria was helpless then she said, Please honey do operation please.

No, no, can’t, can’t do that. Why do you not understand me? I can’t do that, – Jasmine said, adding – I need a miracle. Therefore, I can’t take the pain it’s so hard. Victoria was watching Jasmine while she see her lying on bed and she was suffering for Jasmine’s suffering. Victoria was sad while she’s hearing Jasmine’s sighing for her pain…and then the pain let Jasmine sleep but that wasn’t the pain that put her to sleep, it was her body when it produced endorphins hormone. There was question why Jasmine didn’t go to stay at hospital for find there a health care and why she refused? ‘cause she was fear if the doctors will take her to do operation. The disease is enemy attacks the body and we can’t see when enter in our body it as ghost invasion us, it clung in us as our skin, the disease dissolves, and cheers in the body as it pleases, it makes us hate our life, and hate ourselves…it doesn’t discrimination child, young, or adult, it doesn’t discrimination between a rich, poor, black, or white. The patient feels the disease wants to revenge for what we don’t know…it kills our dreams, imagination, desires in life and it kills our dignity, pride and killing our wishes. It humiliates us, it makes our plans stop. Jasmine slept, and Victoria was near Jasmine’s bed sitting on the floor then she said, Okay honey, sleep you need to rest. At the time Victoria used to get outside walk on street, thinking about her friend when Jasmine be sleep. Will she die or not? Will she heal or not? Will she do operation or not? Oh my dear, how will be your life? Will your life finish or not? But why you don’t do operation? It’s just operation that will help you for continue your life. Then question came to Victoria. The question is, ’if you have disease as Jasmine will you do operation to mastectomy? Will you do operation for eradication your breasts? What will be the compensation if you did operation?’ No compensation, nothing. Victoria continued in walking on road where the trees around the road, she was smelling the trees leaves, the leaves were carrying a special perfume, it was a great perfume! She was feeling with a beauty thing was walking here, feeling that here someone was put a French perfume on the trees leaves in the past! She was feeling that is breaths cover her, she was feeling that someone control on her! Although she was sad. Victoria felt in strange relax while she walked on this road. Yeah, how this is great! I’m happy I’m feeling something caressing my soul, I’m feeling in sprightly, I’m quill, woo! How this is a wonderful! At the time jasmine was asleep in her room with hope that the pain will forget her some of time. she was sleeping as thing diving in sea as one wants to escape of something chasing her…Jasmine was hope if the endorphins doesn’t finish ’cause if the endorphins hormone finish, she will wake up then she finding the pain waiting her at her bedroom. I want to sleep, I don’t want to wake up, I want diving in sea I want running flying to other place where no pain awaits me! Jasmine felt while she sleeping that her soul got outside of her body, she felt that her soul flew far away where the heaven, the soul was looked to Jasmine’s body and ready to makes something then she said to her soul, Please don’t do that, please don’t back to my body, stay over the sky where’s no pain. The humans as ship sailing on ocean, the ship hasn’t captain or someone drives to get the place where there peace and the beauty things. The world divide between three things, the first gets island where the great things, and the second gets island hasn’t anything just pain and suffering, and the third stays on ocean waiting what will happen to him. The driver who drives the ship is the wind drives us where he wants. Victoria continued in walking she was walked a slowly touch the leaves with her hand. Yeah, how the leaves have a great soft touch the leaves as like silk! She was feeling that every leave is silk, silk, perfume with a scented breathes!

Victoria, Victoria, where is she? Jasmine woke up from her sleep then she called Victoria, but she didn’t find her in her room. When Jasmine called her friend, Victoria was put her face on the leaves where the cold and dew! The leaves were covered with some of dew, some of dew stayed on leaves and others falling on Victoria’s hand then on land! Oh, Jasmine going to wake up, Victoria came back quickly to Jasmine.

Oh sorry honey.

Where have you been?

Just walk, I have seen you sleeping then I liked to get outside.

Okay honey. I know I made you tire with me, Jasmine said.

Oh no, honey. Don’t say that.

Tell me about outside, what have you seen? Is still the roads and streets wonderful or everything changed tell me? – she added – you know I haven’t seen the street since long time, so tell me about people who walk, cars, roads, trees, rain, wind, sky, tell me about everything.

Okay honey, I have walked on street, and I have seen some of people walk but not much of them, the sky is clear where the starts and moon, and everything was quiet, Victoria said.

Anything special happened? Jasmine asked.

Oh no, why you ask as that? Victoria said.

I don’t know but I see you happy! – Jasmine said – tell me where you have been exactly? Jasmine asked.

Yes honey, I have been walking and while I walked, I see a small road and there were some of bushes and trees.

Then Jasmine said, Victoria.

Yes honey?

Please off the light and light a candle.

Oh really! Yeah okay, I’m going to light a candle, Victoria said.

Thank you, Jasmine said.

The room became dark, just the candle was on the table near Jasmine’s bed. The cantle’s colour was pink. Victoria tried to light it ’cause the cantle was wet! Then she sat near Jasmine.

Okay honey, tell me what have happened with you?

There is a place I loved, Victoria said.

The place is the bridge? Jasmine asked.

Oh no, the place is a narrow side street, it’s near bridge on the left, and there some small trees.

She tired with her how she is a great girl!

Yes, she is. You know I hope she die.

What do you say! Oh, my Lord, you are heartless.

Oh no I’m not.

Enough don’t talk anymore.

Please understand me, I love her as you love her. I’m her father.

You think you are father.

Sure I am.

No you don’t ’cause you have no faith.

Oh no I have, but I don’t like to see her with sadness I don’t like to see her with her torment and with sorrows. I don’t like it. I’m her father and I love her ’cause she was the first child of us. You remember that?

Yes, I remember but please don’t say it once again, okay don’t.

Jasmine’s father didn’t know what he should say but he didn’t want his girl to die. He doesn’t want to see her in pain and her weakness. That was painful.

I can’t sleep I have insomnia for her, I’m like you, suffering – her father said – so we must care for her and mustn’t leave her okay, we must support okay, she is our daughter and must be side her, and do anything for her.

Okay, I’m sorry forgive me honey.

It’s okay. I’m going outside I need walk. Please I just wanted to say that she didn’t choose the disease okay may you were ill or me or anyone else, the disease has chosen her not us okay please, her mother said.

Yes, you are right…what the place’s story?

I don’t know but when I walked, I felt something see to me watching me and waiting me.

Oh! Really?

Yeah, you know I felt some of breeze morning encircles and touch me! It’s wonderful feeling.

Oh! Yeah, you know the sensations we were felt on bridge.

Yeah, yes, the same sensation, the warmth, emotions, perfume, happiness.

Maybe we so passionate, Victoria, for we feel in that.

"Maybe honey. There are leaves dancing with when the air scoffing