2: The f

sa

and get closer to it, reducing th

ving the slightes

is same fraction of a second of surprise. His indiffere

sm

ow s

hat says

d the market is g

ly avoiding Malik's gaze. She never gets too far from me,

rf

es to come back,

yet ready to

th, moving away fr

through the usua

e I want

wi

Wh

to her. His face is t

you go ou

e her mind looking f

eep. It was too

y nod m

d Ma

thing is

ing, but s

mes imme

lik has to d

fectly controll

reducing the s

waiting f

and her reaction confir

's w

n't

is low

er fists, he

me paranoi

e, savoring the fear hi

Ma

een us, as oppressive as th

n my heels and

d, a certaint

s already sta

w

silence w

atening. He hasn't talked since he accused me of waiting for Malik. He di

m the beats

kno

ybe not yet, but he know

e my own body betrays me. Whenever I see Malik, my breath cuts off,

illage, Assane slows do

see father befo

perhaps waiting for a reac

l ri

eking to detect a flaw. Then he nod

ment and take a great in

ot fo

re step, a low and famili

he fol

travels

around

li

ze anchored in mine. It is larger than Assane, more imposing too. His fac

e it, I feel

f fear and

low tone. He went

hes a smile

pects so

ok a

oesn't

cours

reduces the distance between us. I hold my

o break you if you

eze my

n't do

or a moment, then s

to yourself

at to tie. He

away, refusing to hear

p down,

ust the b

-

ssane is strangel

re, every silence. His gaze be

had happened, I serve t

de, I di

hes slowly, stopping just beh

othing to tell

t misse

own, staring at

e you as

e I know

y shoulder, and an

when you hi

se my

is clos