התעוררות בבני ברק

Orthodox Awakening

פרק ראשון | Chapter One

Rivka had never been alone with a man who wasn't her husband.

"?המזגן לא עובד" asked the technician. "The AC isn't working?"

She nodded, eyes down. He was secular—jeans, t-shirt, bare arms.

"אני רון. מאיפה הבעיה?" "I'm Ron. Where's the problem?"

"בחדר שינה." The words felt dangerous. "In the bedroom."

פרק שני | Chapter Two

She stood in the doorway, watching him work. His muscles moved beneath his shirt.

"את לא צריכה לעמוד ככה." "You don't have to stand like that."

"?מה" "What?"

"תרגעי. אני לא נושך." "Relax. I don't bite."

She blushed. Twelve years of marriage. Three children. She'd never felt this.

פרק שלישי | Chapter Three

"?מאיפה את" "Where are you from?"

"פה. מבני ברק." "Here. From Bnei Brak."

"כל החיים?" "Your whole life?"

"כל החיים." "My whole life."

"?את מאושרת" "Are you happy?"

No one had ever asked her that. "אני לא יודעת." "I don't know."

פרק רביעי | Chapter Four

He touched her hand. Just a touch. She should have screamed. Run. Called her husband.

Instead, she trembled.

"אני לא יכולה," she whispered. "I can't."

"אני יודע." "I know."

"אבל אני רוצה." "But I want to."

He was gentle. Slow. Teaching her things her husband never had.

"!רון... אנשים... בעלי" "Ron... people... my husband!"

"שש. אני פה." "Shh. I'm here."

פרק חמישי | Chapter Five

He left. The AC worked perfectly. She cried for three days.

Then she started to think. About her life. About what she wanted.

She never saw Ron again. But she started wearing colors instead of just black. Started reading books that weren't approved. Started asking questions.

"?את בסדר" her husband asked. "Are you okay?"

"אני מתחילה להיות." "I'm starting to be."

הסוף | The End

לפעמים, רגע אחד יכול לשנות חיים שלמים. לפעמים, האדם הכי לא צפוי מדליק אור בחושך.

Sometimes, one moment can change an entire life. Sometimes, the most unexpected person lights a candle in the darkness.