Life 101
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“We can go back now if you don’t feel like it.”
“It’s fine. I want to do this.”
She smiled and the lines at the corners of her mouth spread out. I smiled too, my half-smile.
“Let’s go then,” said Ahmad. “I’ll come with you, in case something happens.”
What could happen? Anything can happen to anyone. That’s Life 101. We got out of the car and crossed through the long marble hallway, passing through the depths of Amiri Hospital. The smell of cigarettes lingered everywhere. We went up to the Men’s Internal Medicine wing. I met Wadha in the corridor. She hurried to meet me.
“How’s your father?”
“He lost his right eye.”
“When did that happen?”
“Three days ago. He’s screaming from the pain in his stomach.” Then she added, looking deep into my eyes, “He asked for you twice.”
“I hope he feels better soon.”
Why did Saqr bother to ask about me now? She gave my blue summery dress an examining look and couldn’t help but comment.
“Your husband allows you to go out without an abaya?”
“That’s none of his business.”
“How’s that?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“You married a liberal guy! I knew it the first time I saw him.”
“Are you going to keep jabbering on like this?”
“Who are they?” She motioned her head toward Hayat and Ahmad standing three meters away from us. “Where’s your husband?”
“This is my friend Hayat and her husband Ahmad.”
She pursed her lips and said reservedly, “Pleased to meet you.” She meant the opposite.
Badriya came out of the room and hugged me while letting out a deep sigh, “God brought you!”
“How are you, Badriya?”
“I’m fine. You look great! We’ve missed you! How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Saqr asked for you twice.”
“I heard.”
“He’d love to see you. He’s been asking about you since he lost his eye.”
That’s it then. He wants to see me for the last time before he loses his left eye too. He wants to see where I ended up. As his creature, his monstrosity. He wants to know what his efforts accomplished.
“You can go in, Fatima.”
Yes, I’ll go in, into the dragon’s lair for the last time.