In 2009, a 16-year-old in Kumul, Xinjiang, discovered a forbidden seven-volume Uyghur novel titled "Leyighan Bulaq" (The Muddy Spring) by Jalalidin Băhram. The book, described as being about the brutalities of the Cultural Revolution, was banned by the government.
The individual shared the novel with a classmate, Rabia, their "closest academic rival and secret friend." Their relationship developed through handwritten notes, which was their only way of communicating in a conservative Muslim town where friendships between boys and girls were discouraged. This exchange of notes eventually led to a romantic relationship.
After about a year, the individual left to study abroad. Rabia faced difficulties obtaining a passport due to tight controls for Uyghurs by Xinjiang authorities. She moved to Beijing for a language course, which allowed her to bypass these restrictions. She joined her partner in Istanbul in 2014, and they married in 2020. Many of their family members, including Rabia's parents and siblings, and the individual's father, could not attend.
The couple later moved to London in late 2024. They reflected on their journey, noting that their lives, like the novel's plot, have been marked by tragedy, friendship, love, and resilience.