“I should be going, uncle,” Keyvan said. “I have
an art class that I must prepare for.” He kissed his uncle and Babak,
nodded politely at my cousins and walked towards the door. I kept my eyes on
the floor. There was a slight movement in the air. When I looked up, he was
gone.
Keyvan’s uncle sat us down and poured tea. I wondered
if Keyvan had told him about me. I didn’t dare meet his eyes, afraid of
what I might see. Carpets were turned before us, but it was all a blur. If
I’d known about Keyvan’s uncle, I would have warned Keyvan that we were
coming or taken my cousins somewhere else. If his uncle knows about us,
please don’t let him give us away, I prayed. But I didn’t know who or
what I was praying to anymore. Allah would not listen to a disobedient
daughter.
“Layla, come
