Based on the True Story of the Red-Clad Woman of Ferdowsi Square
Sender: Maziar
Recipient: Yaqut, Always Waiting
January 2, 1969
Yaqut the Robin
Hello, my dearest Yaqut,
Perhaps the right thing to do was to write to you sooner and let you know how I am. My dear Yaqut, I hope you are well and happy to read my letter. I wish I could capture the joy in your eyes upon seeing this letter on my camera's negative. I think of you every moment and blame myself for not coming to our meeting at Ferdowsi Square. I do not know when or how, but one day I will meet you in that square, wearing the same red dress we chose to recognize each other, with a red rose in your hand. You know, it was very hard for me to come to our meeting and watch you from afar without being able to meet you. I did come to our meeting that day; when our communist hideout was exposed and SAVAK arrested all the members, I was among those arrested. If I had come to see you that day, they might have arrested you too and imprisoned you in this dark cage like me. That day, the fear of losing you tormented me every moment. However, I want you to know that I love you and will love you for the rest of my life. I do not want to keep you waiting for my turbulent life, but wait for me every day at Ferdowsi Square where we were supposed to meet. The chance of my release from prison is almost zero, but I have not lost hope of seeing you again. Maybe they will hang me like the others, or maybe I will be lucky and endure a few years of suffering and separation from you in this torture chamber, opening a small window of hope for me. This waiting, whatever it may be, is still painful. Maybe I will return to you, maybe not. If the angel of death allows me to live, I will write to you again. However, if you no longer receive a letter from me, know that they have taken my life. Know that under any circumstances, you and your love will always remain eternal in my heart. I do not know if this letter will bring hope for our meeting or if it is the last letter I write to you. Just forgive me.
Goodbye, my red-clad love,
From Maziar, whom you were waiting for and maybe still are.
