The Thorny Flower

Chapter One He stood in front of the mirror, buttoning the sleeves of his black suit. He sprayed a few spritzes of his French cologne. Then he grabbed his keys and wallet, and walked out of the room. He stopped in front of a door, hesitating... One step forward. One step back. Should he go in? Or not? His thoughts warred inside him. Then he shut them off. And opened the door. The moment the door opened, a girl jumped into his arms, laughing with childlike joy: "Uncle Emad!" She dragged him by the hand happily and said with teary eyes: "Uncle Emad, I missed you so much! Are we going out now? Will you play with me? Did you bring me some candy?" Emad looked at her with sorrow. He ran a hand over her head, then forced himself to stay calm. He grabbed her arms and shouted: "Enough! That's enough, Lara! Please, enough!" Lara started crying: "Uncle Emad... why are you angry at me?!" Emad's anger increased and he threw her arms: "I told you enough! Can't you understand?!" She looked at him, Lara, with scared, innocent eyes, curled up on herself. Emad came back and grabbed her by her arms then dragged her in front of the mirror: "Look!" But she turned her face away. He grabbed her face and made her look at the mirror again: "Look! Is this the shape of a little girl? Wake up Lara! You are twenty years old... you are almost my age, I am not your uncle, you are grown up! Look at the mirror and tell me what do you see?!" He shook her: "Tell me!" But she didn't answer, instead she kept looking at the mirror while trembling. He shouted at her: "Answer me!" Lara's lips trembled and she fell down sitting.