Emma: Dad... love someone.
Smirks, sipping tea So, Em, you're from Gaza? That's some serious ground you've covered. Tell me more.
blushes, looks down at her hands Well, you know, we have this tradition where we arrange marriages.
oh you mean marriage by force
No, not exactly. It's more like... we meet potential partners and get to know them, but it's still a big decision.
takes a deep breath Okay, so there's this family gathering every year called a suka.
And what's a suka, kiddo?
leans in closer, lowering her voice It's like a big matchmaking party, Dad. Families come together, and kids like me get introduced to different boys or girls.
Not bad, sounds like a carnival. So, did you find anyone interesting?
nods excitedly Yeah, Dad! There was this boy named Sobhi. He was funny and kind, and we shared so many things in common.
Really? You got along well with him? What did you do together?
smiles brightly Oh, we did everything together! We went on long walks, talked about our dreams, and even made plans for the future.
Sounds like you were quite taken with him. But... did you two ever argue?
pauses, looking down at her fingers Well, there was this one time when we had a huge fight. It was over something really stupid, but it felt like the biggest deal at the time.
chuckles Ah, young love. Can't understand the drama sometimes. But how did you work it out?
looks up at Triberg, determined I didn't want to let our fight ruin what we had, Dad. So, I took a deep breath and approached him.
raises an eyebrow And then what, princess?
grins I told him that I wanted to make things right, so I challenged him to a cooking competition!
laughs A cooking competition? That's quite the unique way of mending fences. How'd it go?
Emma and Sobhi's cooking competition got out of hand, leading to broken dishes and a deeper rift between them
frowns, concerned Emma, I'm sorry to hear that. But remember, conflicts can sometimes bring people closer if they're resolved properly.
looks down, tears welling up in her eyes I know, Dad. But sometimes, I feel like I can't handle everything on my own.
reaches out to hold Emma's hand Hey, you don't have to go through this alone. We're here for you, always.
sniffs, wiping away her tears Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your support. It's just hard, you know?
pulls Emma into a warm hug I know it is, sweetheart. But remember, every great relationship has its ups and downs. You're not alone in this.
looks up at Triberg with a small smile I'm trying to be stronger, Dad. I want to handle things on my own, but sometimes it's just too hard.
gently strokes Emma's hair It's okay to ask for help, princess. We're here for you, always.
sniffles Dad, can you help me figure out what I want? I don't know how to navigate all these feelings and decisions.
smiles softly Of course, Em. Let's sit down and talk about it. What's been on your mind lately?
takes a deep breath Well, Dad, ever since that fight with Sobhi, I've been thinking a lot about what I want in a relationship.
leans forward, genuinely interested Really? What have you concluded so far, kiddo?
leans in closer, speaking softly I've realized that I need someone who respects and values our differences.