“listen,”shesaid,“iething.sothingyouhavetoknowbefore...”</p>

“idontcareitis.”</p>

“youokno.”</p>

“ifitakeyoufeelbetter,tell.butitgeanything.”</p>

therean.ie...rebellious...stupid,and...heostanth.alltheafghansinvirginiaalkingaboutit.</p>

“padareventuallyfoundus.heshoadeeho.iing.sayingihatedhi..</p>

“anyehoand”shee.”iheardherputthephonedoebae,isaytherhadhadastroke,therightsideofherfacesoguilty.shedidntdeservethat.</p>

“padarvedustocalifoiashortlyafter.”asilencefollowed.</p>

“hoheow”isaid.</p>

“eforthatday.ireallybelievehesaved.”shepaused.“so,doesitoldyoubotheryou”</p>

“alittle,”isaid.ioypride,iftikhar,an,adidbotherabit,butihadpohisquitealotintheebacktoeoheirpast</p>

“doesitbotheryouenoughtoind”</p>

“no,soraya.notevenclose,”isaid.“nothingyousaidgesanything.iarry.”</p>

shebrokeintofreshtears.</p>

ienviedher.herseosttoldherhoout,aroyedafortyyearrelationshipbetanye.urage.</p>

thirteen</p>

onyof“givingdefrohastegari.ikedtieintherearvieirror.</p>

“youlookkhoshteep,”babasaid.handso.</p>

“thankyou,baba.areyouallrightdoyoufeeluptothis”</p>

“uptothisitsthehappiestdayoflife,ar,”hesaid,slingtiredly.</p>

iuldhearusieouedoffthesic.</p>

khanuaheriopehedoor.“salaalayku”shesaid,beang.shedperdherhair,isaoistened.“yourebarelyinthehouseanditodothenightbefore.</p>

sheledusthroughabrightlylithall.ontheeneily:ayoungbouffanthairedkhanuaheriandthegeneralniagarafallsiaheriinaseaessdress,thegeneralinanarroiling,thesunglintingoffthesilverilitaryoutfit,shakinghandshkinghusseinofjordan.aportraitofzahirshah.</p>

thelivingrooabouttsseatedonedalongthewal</p>

...</p>