Part 2
The Decision Intersection

I have been meeting one of my father's patients for a while now. I think he is a good boy. He has gone through a lot in his life. This makes me want to be with him more and talk to him. I want him to know that he is not alone. I have never felt this way before.

Two days ago, when my father found out that I had met his patient Bahman, he was very shocked. He went into a deep depression. After a while, he told me: "This boy is no good for you. Stay away from him before it is too late. Because he is a depressed person. He has a history of mental illness. He can hurt you."

But I still love Bahman. I am willing to stay with him until he is treated. I insisted that he come to my father for treatment of his depression. Otherwise, the doctor would not have come at all.

We met in one of my father's colleague's offices. He is an internal medicine doctor. I was very sick that day. I was not feeling well. I was sitting in the office waiting for the doctor. Bahman arrived and sat on the chair next to me. Our acquaintance began with a simple question from Bahman.

He asked me: “Excuse me, ma’am…”

Yalda: My dear!

Bahman: Is this Dr. Kiani, who is an internal medicine doctor, a good doctor?

Yalda: Yes, how is that?

Bahman: Nothing. I just wanted to know. Because this is the first time I’ve seen him.

Yalda: Yes. He is my father’s colleague. He is a skilled doctor. He has patients from all over the country. They have healing powers, so to speak.

Bahman: Have you ever seen him?

Yalda: Yes. As soon as I catch a cold or get sick, I come to him.

Bahman: Very good. Thank you.

The moment I saw Bahman, I really liked him. I couldn’t stand it. The sense of security that those two words gave me made me feel addicted to being with him.

I asked him: “Excuse me, can I know your name?”

Bahman: Yes, I’m Bahman.

I didn’t want my conversation to end with Bahman at all.

Yalda: I’m lucky, Mr. Bahman. I’m Yalda. A pharmacy student.

At first glance, I knew that he liked me too. When he realized that the feeling was mutual, he gave me a strange, fake smile. This smile and this conversation led to our acquaintance and relationship.

Bahman’s health is very important to me. He knows this very well. I helped him as much as I could to overcome his depression.

Bahman is a quiet person. He doesn’t tell me anything about his problems. The day I found out that Bahman was depressed, I took him to a cafe next to the university. I talked to him for a long time to get him to stop committing suicide. I was able to convince him to come to my father for treatment and get better.

In the cafe, he repeated this repetitive statement many times:

Bahman: Yalda, do you know what I like?

Yalda: What do you like?

Bahman: I would like to come to you one day in a cream-colored Chevrolet. You should put all your belongings in your suitcase. Let's go together on the Chalus road to a place where there are no people at all.

Yalda: Is there anyone as far away as Bahman?

Bahman: No. I just want you to be yourself and me. No one else will bother us.

Yalda: Okay. I know something like that is possible. When you feel better and come to my father for treatment, then I will come with you wherever you want to be together.

As he told me, the best place he can find peace is on the roof of their house. He lives alone in that house. He doesn't know where his family is or what they do.

Yalda: This request is not far from reach. You just need to listen to me a little if you want it. Bahman, we'll fix it together...

That day I was a little afraid that he might do it on his own. Maybe he'll throw himself down from that top and there won't be any more Avalanche. It was impossible for me not to think about it. That's when I gave him my small hand mirror that I use for makeup. Because I knew he loved me very much. Since it's because of me, there's no chance he'll throw himself down from the roof anymore.

I told him: "Stop arguing about this, Bahman. Today I have a gift for you that you can always look into and see me in."

Bahman: Seriously? What is this gift?

Yalda: Here it is. Take it, it’s yours.

Bahman: It’s just a mirror with leather embroidery around it.

Yalda: Yes, that’s right. It’s a mirror. But not just any mirror.

Bahman: So what’s the difference between it and other mirrors?

Yalda: The difference is that whenever you look in it and I’m not by your side, you can see me in it and remember me.

Bahman: Oh. Thank you very much.

He thanked me dryly and blankly. He put the mirror in his pocket. His fake smile disappeared. I was more scared than ever. My heart sank. You could tell from Bahman’s eyes that he wanted to do something.

A few days ago, I took him to my father’s to finish his last therapy session. But after he left my father’s office, I don’t know why he turned red and was angry with my father. Any sound, any word, any reaction could have brought tears to my eyes at that moment.

It was probably because of me. My father is against me being with Bahman and loving him.

I don’t know. I’m also torn between choosing Bahman or my father. But I love Bahman very much and I can’t leave him. Maybe it’s better not to look at this as a choice. After all, I have to do something.

But on the other hand, the last counseling session with my father wasn’t very good either. Neither my father nor Bahman talked to me about what happened that day. Has Bahman gotten better or worse?

Bahman hasn’t answered my calls for a few days. I haven’t heard from him. But the last time we were talking, he kept repeating one sentence: "Everything is going to be alright."

"It's time to change and be together."

After hearing this, I didn't know whether to be happy or scared.

Being with Bahman is very enjoyable for me. Because we love each other. Apart from his history of mental illness, which my father constantly brings up, he has no other problems. I think he's a good person.

I promised Bahman that I would always be by his side. I wouldn't let anyone stop me from loving him.

In the cafe, he would constantly ask me: "Yalda!"

Yalda: Oh, dear Yalda!

Bahman: If a situation arises where we can't love each other, or for example, no one lets us get together, what will you do? Will you leave me?

Oh, God, make me calm down. I'm afraid to answer. I'm afraid to say the wrong thing.

Yalda: Look, Bahman. I love you. I won't let anything stop us. If you mean Baba, don't worry about him. I'll talk to him so he can come to terms with my situation.

Bahman: Okay. But I'm not sure.

Yalda: Don't worry about Baba. Baba is with me. If you're by my side, I'll be by your side until the end. Don't worry at all!

And he smiled a meaningful fake smile again for a few seconds. His smile faded.

I'm left to God what to do. On one side, my father and on the other side, Bahman. The last time I was talking to my father about Bahman, we had a fight. At the end of the fight, he only said one sentence to me: "Forget Bahman. Bahman is no use to you."

After that night, I was at a crossroads. What should I do? What should I really do to have both my father and Bahman?