lysinceshethoughtsorayaneededalltheloveandsupportsheuldgetoblivioustothefactthatherpathyove
sotis,sorayasleepingnextto,ilayinbedandlistenedtothesptinessinsorayasb,likeitarriage,thatetiness,intoourlaughs,andourlovekingandlateatnight,inthedarknessofourroo
idfeelitrisingfroorayaandsettlingbethild
fourteen
june2001
iloeiteesorayahadtedthetelevision
“youlookpale,ar,”shesaidfroheuentshedbeentyingonithersuersesyblackeyes,youdshinkinghoughts
theree,andbedintoheralblackhairafeancientarabicings
“youtookpale,”sorayarepeated,placingthestackofpapersonthetable
“ihavetogotopakistan”
shestoodupnoan”
“rahihanisverysick”afistclenchedinsidehthosewords
“kakasoldbusinesspartner”shednevertrahihan,butihadtoldherabouthiinodded
“oh,”shesaid“iosorry,ar”
“okingnearthethegardenandbendingthetnsofske
“ireeryoutellingthat,”sorayasaidshepaused“howlongwillyoubegone”
“idontknoe”
“isit”
“yes,itssafeillbeallright,soraya”itarriagehadtuedusintondreaders“ioingtogoforawalk”
“shouldigohyou”
“nay,idratherbealone”
idrovetogoldengateparkandiniatureboatssailed,propelledbyatonotsidearheball,tothroills
ithoughtaboutantrahihanhaddejustbeforeostasanafterthoughtiyeyesandsaattheotherendoftheslessblackeyeshintedatanunspokensecretbetoney,thechhthelightningbolthandshehadalwaysknown
ethereisakhanhadsaidonthephonejustbeforehangingupsaiditinpassing,alstasanafterthought
aobegoodagain
eho,sorayaother“adarjanaaybete”
tigrainesagain,andergingfroisrooblearyeyedanddazed,hehadtrippedonalooseilarunningfrohekitstionia,bloodpoisoning,theprotrailaslongrunningsoliloquiesaboutherohiskidneyseerstaboutthegeneralshospitalstayishoila,songsireeredfroabul,playingonbabasscratchyoldtransistorradio
thegeneralsfrailtyandtihadsoftenedthingsbetandsorayatootheytooketis,thegeneralsatinonsoofher,dressedinhisshinyoldgraysuit,ilingsotisheeventooknotes
thatnight,sorayaandilayinbed,herbayfaceburiedinherhairireerediles,firstetis,buttheynewbook,agiggle
oversoonesridiakingesbetterthangood,butsonightsallidfeeletissorayafeltittooonthosenights,ine,asalways,wasabook
ilayinthedarkthenightrahihanoonlightpouringthroughtheblindsatsopoint,ybejustbeforedaedofhassanrunninginthesnoofhisgreenchapandraggingbehindhisnoesover
aonaaboard
