The Single Candle

The short Brief:

One candle. Two lives. A love that must stay in the shadows.

For Kareem, life truly began the day he met Essaf. In a society where their love is treated as a crime, a single candle on a birthday cake becomes their private symbol for their first year together—a quiet celebration of finding a soulmate in the dark.

But when a sudden, devastating tragedy strikes outside a bustling café, Kareem is thrust into a nightmare of silent grief. Forced to hide his heartbreak where others can mourn openly, he must face the ultimate test of devotion.

The Single Candle is a poignant, deeply emotional story of hidden passion, societal walls, and a beautiful love cut heartbreakingly short.

 

The Story:

- 1 -

He lay on the bed in his small room, surrounded by a single wardrobe, a single bed, a small desk, and a few shelves crammed with books. These were his books—collected over the years, some already read, others waiting for their day to come.

 

He kept glancing at the wall clock, anxious and worried. He was supposed to be somewhere else, celebrating his friend Kareem’s birthday with a few colleagues. But he had to wait for his sister. The young girl hadn’t returned from her college yet, and he was too worried to leave their mother alone; she was far too sick to be left by herself.

 

The sound of the main outer door opening gave him the cue to finish getting dressed. He splashed on some perfume and opened his wardrobe to grab Kareem’s present. Leaving his room, he found his sister collapsing onto the couch, smiling but exhausted after a long day of classes.

 

"You’re very late," he said, trying to look stern. "Oh, I’m sorry, Essaf! It’s rush hour, you know," she answered. "I can't be late for my friends," he argued. "You’re never late, dear," she said with a smile. "Wow, you look so sharp! Who’s the lucky girl?" "What do you mean?" he asked, hiding a smile. "The owner of this present," she teased. "Oh, it’s just one of the guys. A friend," he said. "I’m not a baby anymore," she laughed, putting on a dramatic act. "It’s l'amour, my dear brother! Love can always be seen in a lover's eyes." "Stop it, you naughty girl," he said, pretending to be serious but feeling happy inside. "Go check on Mom and see if she needs anything. She already ate and took her medicine." "Okay, just say hi to her," she said with a mischievous grin. "Who is 'her'?" he asked, playing along. "The lucky girl!" she cried, leaping out of his reach. Essaf left the house with a wide, happy smile.

 

- 2 -

 

Kareem had never enjoyed celebrating his birthday before. He had always been anxious, unhappy, and utterly alone. But everything had changed this year. He wasn't alone anymore; he felt happy and at peace. He had finally started to feel human again.

 

Kareem had asked a few colleagues and his closest friends to join his celebration at his usual café, wanting the venue to bear witness to his happy hours just as it had to his sad ones.

 

Two of his female friends, Dalia and Nouha, began preparing the cake. They whispered questions to the other boys, Ali and Ibrahim: Was it really okay to put only one candle on the birthday cake, just as Kareem requested? Kareem hadn't given them a straight answer.

 

Kareem was Kareem—always a closed box, never letting anyone pry into his life. He never pried into theirs either, even with his closest friends. None of them had ever known anything about Kareem’s romantic life before. Perhaps they were just beginning to notice a change in him; he seemed happier, with a renewed appetite for life.

 

The celebration began under the light of that single, lonely candle. They sang funny birthday songs, and then they asked Dalia to sing Kareem’s favorite song in her beautiful voice. Dalia sang:

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you every step of the way. And I will always love you. I will always love you." ¹

 

- 3 -

 

Dalia was a pretty girl with sweet manners and a beautiful voice. She was one of Kareem’s closest friends. When they first met at the faculty, she had fallen in love with him instantly. She tried to give him shy hints about her feelings, and though Kareem understood, he made sure she knew she was only a friend—a close friend, but nothing more.

 

Yet, despite everything, she never stopped loving him. Even when she noticed Ali’s love, passion, and romantic gestures toward her, she could never accept them or stop loving Kareem.

Ali, however, refused to take "no" for an answer. Eventually, he turned his unrequited romance into a defense mechanism, making bitter, sarcastic jokes about Dalia. He couldn't stop feeling jealous of Kareem, growing to resent him. In Ali's mind, even if Kareem didn't love Dalia back, Kareem was the sole reason Dalia couldn't love him.

 

- 4 -

 

Dalia’s song ended to the sound of her friends' applause. Ibrahim looked at the cake and asked, "I’m starving. Aren’t we going to blow out the candles... I mean, the candle?"

 

The group laughed. "We have to wait for Essaf," Kareem said. "Yeah, I get it. We have to wait for your intimate friend. You never do anything without him around," Ibrahim mocked.

 

Ibrahim’s words set off alarm bells in Kareem’s mind. Trying to shake off the awkward tension, he called Essaf’s cell phone. After a brief exchange, he hung up and announced, "We’re going to wait just five minutes, guys, okay? He'll be here." "Please, Dalia, sing another love song," Nouha requested. Once again, Dalia’s voice filled the air to the rhythm of her friends' clapping hands.

 

- 5 -

 

Essaf appeared at the main entrance of the café with a bright smile, holding Kareem’s present. It wasn't his first time meeting Kareem’s circle, but they had never become close, even if they accepted Essaf as good company. Kareem felt a rush of pure happiness when their eyes locked while Essaf shook hands with the group.

 

"Happy Birthday, Kimo," Essaf smiled, handing Kareem the gift. "Thanks a lot!" Kareem opened the wrapping with curious, eager eyes. "Oh my god! It's the new book by my favorite author! Essaf, I appreciate this so much. I was dying to read it!" Kareem said, his voice brimming with joy.

 

"You’re so late, though. What took you so long?" Kareem asked. "I couldn't leave Mom alone until my sister got back," Essaf explained. "I'm sorry to hear that. I wish her a speedy recovery," Kareem and the others murmured. "So, are we going to blow out the candle or not? It’s almost completely melted," Ali interrupted. "Happy Birthday to you..." the crowd began to sing as Kareem finally blew out his single candle.

 

- 6 -

 

Kareem and Essaf moved away from the group with two slices of cake, looking at each other until their smiles broke into quiet laughter.

 

"What are you laughing at?" Kareem asked. "I’m just so happy, I can’t even explain it," Essaf said. "I hope it lasts forever. But happy because of what?" Kareem wondered. "Because I’m with the most handsome guy in the whole world," Essaf replied, his voice soft and tender. "In the whole world?" Kareem laughed. "Do you have any doubt?" Essaf laughed, then added, "I understood your idea with the single candle, by the way." "Really? And?" Kareem smiled. "Because it’s our first year together," Essaf explained. "Yeah, darling. I feel like I was only truly born on the day we met," Kareem said lovingly.

 

"May we live together forever," Essaf responded. "Forever isn't enough," Kareem joked. "You are never satisfied, are you, my boy?" Essaf replied, making Kareem laugh out loud. "Stop it, we’re in public," Essaf whispered. "Never mind that. So, are you coming to my place tonight?" Kareem asked. "Oh, I wish I could, but Mom is really sick and I can't sleep out tonight." "It's okay," Kareem said, his voice dropping to a sad whisper. "Please, honey, forgive me. I didn't mean to ruin things, but I think..." Essaf checked his wristwatch. "I think I have to leave now." "It’s still early! Why are you rushing?" Kareem asked, gently catching Essaf’s arm. "You know why. Forgive me," Essaf said with a sad smile. "Okay. Anyway, take care of yourself." "You too," Essaf replied. "I love you, Kareem." "I adore you, Essaf," Kareem answered.

 

- 7 -

 

Essaf left the café overwhelmed by a swirling mix of joy, happiness, longing, and sadness—the same emotional storm he felt every time he met Kareem. He felt as though Kareem had become a vital part of his very existence. Essaf’s life before they met had been just like Kareem’s: filled with sadness and the bitter feeling of injustice at being gay in a society that viewed homosexuality as a crime. He used to feel so angry at traditions, religion, and even God, for punishing him over feelings he hadn't chosen.

 

But he was so happy now that his life was improving and becoming more stable. He had finally started to accept himself because of Kareem’s love. He was looking at the world through a new lens, living with a sense of purpose. Even his sister had noticed his joyful behavior and asked for the name of his lover. He constantly wished he could shout his lover’s name to the whole world—the man who had rocked his world.

 

He dreamed that someday they could live together in a place of their own. The thought made his heart beat faster. Maybe someday they could even marry and force the community to accept it, though, in his heart of hearts, he didn't care about other people anymore.

 

"Thank God," Essaf said, looking up at the sky above him. He had never been religious before meeting Kareem. It had always been too hard for him to accept that God would create him gay and punish him for it at the same time. He used to wonder why he liked boys instead of girls, praying to God to change him, but it never happened.

 

He used to be furious with the Almighty because of all his pain, fear, and the feeling of never fitting in. Homosexuality was treated as the dirtiest crime in his community. But now that things were getting better, he found himself turning back to God with unconditional gratitude.

 

"Thank God," Essaf repeated. He stepped off the curb to cross the street, his mind unfocused and his footsteps careless. He didn't notice the car speeding toward him. It hit him hard, throwing his body through the air. Essaf slammed onto the unforgiving pavement, instantly falling unconscious.

 

- 8 -

 

At the screeching sound of car brakes, Kareem and his friends rushed out to the café's terrace along with the other customers, only to witness the horrific aftermath of Essaf’s accident. Kareem froze, unable to move for a moment when he saw Essaf lying on the ground. Terror gripped him.

 

He ran out of the café and into the street with his group. Essaf lay on the ground, bleeding and unconscious. Kareem couldn't think straight; all he wanted was to grab his lover’s hand and hold him tight. But then he remembered Essaf’s warning to watch his behavior in public. Kareem stood there, feeling utterly helpless. Soon, the sirens of an ambulance and police cars drew closer after a flurry of emergency calls.

 

- 9 -

 

Outside the emergency room, Kareem waited with the group in speechless agony. He couldn't stop his mind from spiraling into horrible thoughts about a life without Essaf. He hadn't even been truly alive before meeting him; this was only his first year as a living human being. Plenty of people survive high-impact accidents, he told himself. Maybe Essaf will be one of the lucky survivors.

 

He began to pray, begging God to help Essaf and bring him back—for his sake, and for the sake of his sick, elderly mother.

 

At that moment, another young man—looking frantic and terrified—chased after a doctor, trying to stop him. "Please, Doctor! I can pay whatever you want! Help her, please! If she needs a kidney, I can be the donor!" the man cried, his voice trembling violently. "I’m so sorry, son. It’s a hopeless case," the doctor said gently. "Her kidneys have already failed, and her body is septic right now." "Please, do whatever you can! I can’t live without her!" the young man wept. "My work here is done, son. Only God can save her now, but she needs you too," the doctor said, patting the man's shoulder. "Try to stay by her side and make her final hours as comfortable as possible."

 

The young man, Fares, collapsed to the floor, unable to stop his tears as the doctor walked away. Suddenly, Fares wiped his eyes, forced himself up, opened the door to his girlfriend’s room, and slipped inside. "Oh my God, how can he bear it? It’s so hard to live without your lover," Ibrahim whispered, watching Fares enter the room. "May God help him. It is really so hard," Nouha replied.

 

Kareem listened to them, his eyes fixed on Fares's door. Both he and Fares were trapped in the exact same nightmare. But there was one agonizing difference: Fares could tell the whole world about his suffering, while Kareem could not. All Kareem could do was pray to God and bury his grief and torment deep inside his soul.

 

- 10 -

 

Inside the room, Fares stared at the exhausted body of his girlfriend, Shimaa, trying his best to look calm. "The doctor told me you’re going to be fine, that your kidneys are starting to work again," Fares lied with a heartbreaking smile. "But you need to eat. Eat as much as you can so you can heal. So, what are you going to eat, my dear?" "You can't lie to me. I can tell," Shimaa said in a faint, weak voice. "The doctor told you I’m going to die soon, didn't he?" "Stop saying that! We’re going to live together forever. I can't live without you!" Fares cried out. "Your parents finally accept our relationship, and we’re going to take it to the next level." "It’s just my terrible luck," Shimaa whispered, her voice growing weaker. "You spent all this time looking for a new job so we could get married, and the moment you found it, I break down." "Don't ever say that," Fares said softly, choked with emotion. "You know I can't live without you. I wish it were me suffering instead of you." "You have to live on, honey," Shimaa replied, her voice barely a breath. "Where is my mom?" "She’ll be right back. She went home to get your things," Fares answered. "Do you need anything? I’ll do anything you want."

 

He brought over a plate of fruit, trying to coax Shimaa into eating a slice of apple, but she gently turned her head away.

 

- 11 -

 

Meanwhile, Kareem and his friends were still waiting for the results of Essaf’s operation. Kareem was consumed by a restless, suffocating anxiety. A doctor finally stepped out of the operating room and asked, "Are you the ones who came in with the car accident victim?" "Yes! Is he okay?" Kareem asked frantically. "He is in critical condition. We are moving him to an intensive care room now, and you will be able to see him briefly," the doctor replied.

Panic seized Kareem. Trying to mask his breakdown, he asked a strained question: "Where is the restroom?"

 

- 12 -

 

Kareem collapsed onto the bathroom floor. Tears flooded his face as he punched the tiled walls with his fists, sobbing aloud. Memories of Essaf came rushing back to him...

 

He saw Essaf telling him he loved him, smiling, laughing, crying, holding him with pure tenderness, and singing their song to him in a sweet, melodic voice:

 

"Other dancers may be on the floor, Dear, but my eyes will see only you. Only you have that magic technique, When we sway I go weak. I can hear the sounds of violins Long before it begins. Make me thrill as only you know how, Sway me smooth, sway me now." ²

 

Kareem wept uncontrollably, drowning in his memories, until Ibrahim knocked sharply on the door. "Kareem! Quick! Essaf wants to see you!" "Okay, I’m coming right now," Kareem choked out, splashing water on his face to hide the tracks of his tears before stepping out.

 

- 13 -

 

Kareem and Ibrahim walked down the hallway toward Essaf’s room, accompanied by the agonizing, loud wails of Fares, who had just lost Shimaa. Nurses were trying to pull Fares away and calm him down, but it was useless. Kareem hurried past the devastating sound, feeling himself fall apart inside. At the door to Essaf’s room, Kareem gathered every ounce of strength he had left, trying to look composed to face his destiny.

 

- 14 -

 

Kareem stepped inside and looked at his person—his lover. Essaf lay on the bed, his body bound in splints, hooked up to a feeding tube, an oxygen mask, and a cardiac monitor that beeped rhythmically beside the bed.

 

The group gathered around him looked devastated; some of the girls were crying openly. Kareem’s heart skipped a beat, nearly stopping altogether. Forcing a fake smile to shield his profound terror, Kareem spoke up: "Oh man, you really had us worried about you, Essaf! But look at you, you look great. It’s just a few scratches, you’ll be healed in no time." He pointed to the girls around the bed. "And look at all these chicks holding onto you and crying over you. You're the man!"

 

Kareem delivered the lines without looking into Essaf’s eyes. He couldn't. It was simply too painful. Essaf weakly motioned for Kareem to come closer. He raised a trembling finger and gently pressed it to Kareem’s lips to quiet him. Kareem took Essaf’s hand, all his forced courage evaporating the moment their eyes finally met. They began to speak in the silent language of their eyes—a conversation no one else in the room could hear:

 

“Are you okay, Kareem?” Essaf’s eyes asked. “I’m fine. Are you?” Kareem replied, his soul tearing apart. “I love you.” “I love you more, Essaf,” Kareem answered as a tear finally spilled over. “I will miss you, Kareem. Please take care of yourself,” Essaf’s eyes whispered.

 

Kareem could no longer stifle his heavy sobs; he bowed his head and kissed Essaf’s hand. In that exact moment, Essaf passed away. The monitor flatlined, and the girls began to weep loudly. Kareem only realized his lover was gone when Ibrahim placed a gentle, comforting hand on his shoulder.

 

He stood up with a completely broken heart and walked out of the room. In the hallway just outside the door where his lover had drawn his last breath, he walked blindly, silent tears streaming down his face. He couldn't fight the weight of the grief any longer. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor.

¹ Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (1992)

² Dean Martin - Sway (1954)