ng terraces. As the sky turned warm, I found myself observing his clothing: beige Bermuda shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, brown leather sh

several inches below, he saw me. His eyes g

en't coming," he explained, ecstatic. "Look a

mething moved me, and I wanted to giv

friends in the city, and I'm really

elt guilty for all the garba

ion it, I need to talk too. I hadn't realized that most of my conversations are in my head and the con

whatever you want from now on." He extended his hand, shaking mine to seal the deal.

ny days have

day, what does that

aying. If you're going to be going to th

utiful place. It's called the Royal, it's so big I get lost,

money because it's the best ho

mplicity, but since this is my first so

ue is similar to the locals. I don't think y

are inherited from my mother; she's

miled as I compared the color of his eyes

er hand, am an Arab, a believer. My famil

A smile crowned his comment, which seemed mor

marriages aren't common anymore, at least not amo

to a street marked with a hexagon. I di

roach each other, to listen better a

I can tell you're naugh

k you'r

ound the alley an

where we could have tea on th

s no exit; it'

start?" His eyes looked at m

tourists. That's why it's best if I get you a place to stay with the

on the terrace, which w

someone as educated as

t tea to take the p

ion: How will I handle students' qu

u a pro

myself well first and get a Master's degree in London. The options didn't appeal to me until this one appeared: a Master's in M

doesn't

rything about it. How do you explain that magic has alway

e way he conclu

it wasn't the result of a ritua

each other, Fatima,

magic if you see it every day, at every sunrise, in the birds'

what they've tried to imitate without success. It doesn'

think it's best if you stop

on't be m

ry, and it's not here. I swear. I don't want you to ge

I think it creates a conflict

than get my hopes up with a foreigner, I preferred to cut