1st March 2015
“There,” Yazid said, passing the phone up to Ali from his repair efforts on the floor. “Try it now.”
Ali dialled the memorized-by-heart number, and Yazid’s mobile started ringing on the coffee table. “Thanks,” he said, offering a smile. “If you really want some boyfriend points, you could bring me my cup of tea? I left it in the kitchen.”
“What am I, your boyfriend or your slave?”
“Same thing!” Ali chirped.
Yazid snorted but padded out of the living room.
Ali turned the phone over in his hands and took a deep breath before dialling another number—slightly less well-remembered, much less fluent to the fingers, but…still known.
The phone started ringing on the other end, and Ali pulled himself up onto the sofa. His heart felt heavy, and his stomach was churning, but—it
