“I stopped her at the end of one of the lectures and held out the notebook, looking into her eyes. ‘Please,’ I said.
“‘What’s this?’
“‘The course notes.’
“‘Thank you, I don’t need them,’ she told me.
“My hand remained outstretched, but she drew back, disdainful. Walking away was her way of striking back at me. I followed her and stopped her.
“‘I’ve copied all the lectures,’ I said.
“‘I told you, I don’t need them.’ She looked straight into my eyes and said, ‘You don’t like to give your work to anybody.’
“‘I’m sorry,’ I said and offered the notebook to her again. ‘Please accept it. It’s for you.’
“You know …” he smiled at me, “my heart really pounded when she reached out and took the notebook.”
It was a touching little anecdote but could I use it? Khalid had said he didn’t want me
