27«The dim light of evening is descending over Alexandria of Egypt. The city and its streets have become my greatest love, following the death of my father. The air is getting cooler and I shiver and wrap myself in my cloak. My father appeared to me in my dreams last night. He looked very worried and told me to be careful, not to walk alone in the streets and suddenly he started to cry. Rivers of tears streamed down his dear wrinkled face and I woke up, my heart tight and filled with dread. Should I interpret this dream as an omen? Perhaps not, parents always worry about their children. Even from beyond the grave. After all, he was the one who taught me to walk in the streets on my own, like men do. In a world in which women are respected less than animals, my father wanted to teach me to
