LUTKAS (The Book of Life)

Part 1

A violent storm swept across New York City. Heavy rain poured from the darkened sky, accompanied by terrifying thunder and flashes of lightning that sent fear into the hearts of many people inside Presbyterian Hospital. Nurses and parents rushed to close windows to prevent the strong winds from blowing inside.

The hospital specialized in treating children suffering from various illnesses, and every parent present that day did everything possible to reassure their children and keep them calm despite the frightening weather outside.

Inside one of the pediatric wards, two nurses struggled to restrain a young girl who was screaming uncontrollably, as though she had lost her mind. Her cries attracted the attention of other children, who sat up in their beds to watch the commotion.

“How can we help this child?” one nurse asked while holding the girl’s arm. “She was perfectly fine, and suddenly she changed like this.”

“My housemaid is on her way,” the girl’s mother replied anxiously while watching her daughter tremble with rage. “I’ve asked her to bring something. I think it will calm my daughter down.”

The nurses exchanged puzzled glances but decided to wait.

Outside, the storm intensified. The afternoon sky had grown so dark that it resembled night.

Several minutes later, the housemaid arrived carrying a book. The girl’s mother immediately took it and hurried back to her daughter’s bedside. Without hesitation, she gently placed the book on the girl’s chest.

Instantly, the screaming stopped. The child relaxed completely and fell into a deep sleep. Her mother sighed with relief.

The nurses stared in disbelief. Neither could explain what had just happened. They looked at the mysterious book resting on the girl’s chest as she slept peacefully.

“Let her rest,” her mother said quietly. “She’ll be fine.” Then she left the room.

The nurses remained frozen in confusion while the maid stood silently beside the bed, watching her employer’s daughter sleep with one hand resting on the strange book.

* * *

The girl’s mother was far from happy. This was not the first time her daughter had experienced such an episode.

As she sat outside the ward, memories from years ago flooded her mind.

One evening, when her daughter was still an infant, she had placed the baby on the floor with several children’s books while she prepared dinner. Her husband had been away on a business trip for nearly seven months and was finally returning home that day. While cooking, she spoke to him through a video call.

“Have you finally chosen a name for your daughter?” she asked playfully. “I’ve been waiting for you to decide. Remember our agreement.”

Her husband smiled from inside the airplane. “You won’t believe it,” he replied. “I’ve spent the entire journey thinking about the perfect name for our daughter. Just five minutes ago, I finally found one.”

“What is it?” she asked eagerly while seasoning the food.

“I’ll tell you when I arrive.”

“No, tell me now. I want to start calling her by her name.”

Her husband laughed. “Her name will be Lutfia.”

The mother smiled instantly. “Lutfia...” she whispered.

Overwhelmed with joy, she abandoned her cooking, picked up her baby, and kissed her lovingly.

“Lutfia, my daughter. Your father has chosen a beautiful name for you.”

Even through the phone screen, her husband could hear the happiness in her voice.

Then suddenly—the call disconnected. Communication networks everywhere abruptly failed. At the same moment, a fierce storm raged across the skies.

Inside the airplane carrying Lutfia’s father, panic began spreading among the flight crew. Communication systems had gone dead. They could no longer contact air traffic control, and navigation equipment was failing. The aircraft continued flying, but nobody knew in which direction. The pilots desperately searched for solutions.

Passengers initially assumed it was merely bad weather. However, a few moments later, an announcement came from the cabin crew.

“We are currently experiencing technical difficulties in the cockpit. Please remain calm while our pilots work to resolve the issue.”

The announcement sent fear throughout the aircraft. Some passengers began crying. Others prayed desperately for divine intervention.

Lutfia’s father felt helpless. Only moments earlier, he had been speaking to his wife and imagining the meal they would soon share together. Now, he feared he might never see his family again. He folded his hands and silently prayed.

* * *

Back at home, Lutfia’s mother repeatedly tried to reconnect with her husband. There was no response.

As she waited, something strange caught her attention. Lutfia, still only a baby, sat on the floor surrounded by books and holding a pen.

The mother froze. Every book in front of the child had the same word written across it:

LUTFIA.

The mother stared in disbelief. The name had only been chosen moments ago. Yet somehow, the infant had written it repeatedly across every book around her.

How could a child too young to even stand know her own name?

* * *

The next morning, news outlets and social media platforms were flooded with heartbreaking reports. A passenger aircraft traveling from Kenya to the United States had crashed in a remote forest region near Madagascar. There were no survivors. Witnesses reported that the aircraft exploded immediately upon impact.

Families around the world mourned as recovery teams searched through the wreckage for clues. After two days of investigation, authorities concluded that a complete communication failure had caused the aircraft to lose its course, resulting in the disaster.

The Kenyan government declared a national period of mourning. Flags were lowered across the country. Mass memorial services were held in honor of the victims.

For Lutfia’s mother, the pain was unbearable. Her husband was gone.

* * *

Years later, sitting outside her daughter’s hospital room, she remembered everything.

“My husband,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes, “you left me the most precious gift of all—our daughter.” She smiled faintly. “Lutfia has grown. Every day I see extraordinary things in her. She is gifted in ways I cannot explain. Thank you. I will protect our daughter for the rest of my life.”

She returned to the ward and found Lutfia still sleeping peacefully while embracing the mysterious book. After checking on her, she went back outside to wait.

* * *

Meanwhile, Lutfia was dreaming. In her dream, she held an ancient book and slowly opened it. As she turned to a certain page, strange words appeared before her eyes. The moment she read them, she became terrified.

Suddenly, her eyes transformed. They became sharp, intense, almost supernatural. She slammed the book shut and began running. She ran faster and faster until she vanished completely into a strange dimension, disappearing without a trace.

* * *

Lutfia suddenly woke up. She sat upright in bed, breathing heavily as sweat covered her face.

“Mama!” she cried.

Her mother rushed into the room immediately. “What is it, my daughter?” she asked, stroking her hair gently.

“Mama... I had the dream again.”

“What did you see this time?”

“I was reading a book. Then my eyes changed. They became frightening. After that, I started running, and suddenly I disappeared. I don’t know where I went.”

The girl’s words sent a chill through her mother’s body. She sat beside her daughter’s bed.

“Lutfia,” she said softly, “it was only a dream. I’ve always told you not to be afraid. Whenever these dreams come, pray to God and ask for protection.”

“But why do I always dream about myself?” Lutfia asked. “Why don’t I dream about other people? Or even about you? And every time I see myself, I look frightening. Why?”

Her mother fell silent. This was not the first time Lutfia had experienced such dreams. The same vision had haunted her more than three times already.

Lutfia stared at her mother, waiting for an answer. Her mother wanted to tell her the truth, yet something deep inside prevented her from speaking. But seeing the determination in her daughter’s eyes, she realized she could no longer hide it forever.

Slowly, she took a deep breath and prepared to reveal the truth...

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