The silence in the living room was deafening. Usman looked up at Salma, his mouth partially open. Salma stared back at him, her chest heaving. Safiya was hiding behind the door, her ear pressed firmly against the keyhole.
"Ya salam." she muttered. "Everything has gone terribly wrong."
A minute passed. Then two. The man and the woman stared back at each other, each willing the other to say something. The tears in Salma's eyes were falling silently. She never wished to say it. She never wanted to say it. But Usman had ruined everything. Why didn't he understand? Why couldn't he just keep his feelings locked up?
"Say that again." he said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"I love you, Usman." she cried, swallowing bitterly. The damage had already been done. "I love you, more than you will e
