My mum's dream secret  2013

Artist’s hair embroidery on a pillowcase, آحلام سعیدة Sweet Dreams

One memory that remains with me is of my mother’s secret dream. When I was a child, I would always be able to recognize my mother’s pillowcase among the seven pillowcases in our home. Hers was unique, with an embroidered phrase in a red thread that read “Sweet Dreams.” She would always tell me that this pillowcase was special and that it would bring her good dreams.

As I grew up, I realized that the phrase remained on my mother’s pillowcase, but this time it was handmade. I learned that the pillowcase with the phrase was no longer being sold in stores, so my mother sewed the same phrase directly onto her pillow herself. The pillowcase had become faded and worn after years of use, but the phrase remained clear and bright.

I often wondered why my mother was so attached to this particular pillowcase. I came to realize that it was not just the phrase that was special to her, but the memories that it held. The pillowcase was a reminder of her childhood and the comfort that it brought her. It was a symbol of her hopes and dreams, and a testament to her determination to hold onto the things that she valued.

Today, my mother still sleeps on her beloved pillowcase, and it remains her secret. She does not want to tell anyone about it, but I know that it holds a special place in her heart. And whenever I see the embroidered phrase on her pillow, I am reminded of the love and dedication that my mother has for the things that matter to her.