Sweet Dreams & Strength: How Tragedy and Love Shaped a Donut Shop in Arbat

I'll never forget when Heven first walked into our Hello Future classroom in 2022. She had this spark – you know the kind – where you can just tell someone is going to do something special. Every class, she was there with a smile, ready to help others, bubbling with ideas about what could be possible.

But the real magic of Heven's story started at home. Her father – oh, what an incredible champion he was for his daughter's dreams! I'd often hear stories about how he'd wake up early to drive her into Sulaymaniyah, helping her pick out supplies and introducing her to café owners. He wasn't just supporting her dream; he was living it right alongside her, beaming with pride at every small step forward.

Then the unthinkable happened. A tragic accident took her father's life and left her brother severely injured. My heart broke when I heard the news. In our line of work, we see many challenges, but this? This was different. We all wondered if Heven would be able to continue her journey with us.

But a few months later, there she was at our door, standing taller than ever. The grief was still there in her eyes, yes, but something else too – a fire, a determination that took my breath away. She wasn't just building a business anymore; she was carrying forward her father's legacy of love and belief in her.

And what a beautiful tribute it became! In a place where most people had never tasted a donut, Heven brought something magical to life. You should see how her eyes light up when she talks about trying new recipes, or when she tells me about the lines forming during Eid. She's created more than just a shop – she's created moments of joy in our community.

I remember her telling me, voice full of emotion: "Owning my donut shop fills me with such joy—it's more than just a business; it's a reflection of how I've learned to stand on my own and believe in myself more than ever before."

Every time I visit her shop now, I think of her father. He would have been so proud to see how his daughter turned tragedy into triumph, how she's honoring his memory with every batch of donuts she makes. Some days, when the sweet smell of fresh donuts fills the air in Arbat Camp, I swear I can feel him smiling.