【】therridor,snia,rubbingalholandothsflingtheelvesatthedullgraylighttubesrunningthelengthoftherridorahepaperyflappingoftheirutedsobbing,sniffling,sooneaning,sooneelsesighing,elevatordoorsopeningeoneinurdu.</p>

iopeneyesagainandikajayears.thereisadarklittlesupplyroooleft.init,ifindthepileoffoldedlinensandaherestrooitakethenurseselboyeyesstinganistheones.</p>

ithroykeshiftjainaz,prayerrug,ontheflooraonknees,loyforeheadtotheground,tearssoakingthroughthesheet.iboeerihaventprayedforoverfifteenyears.ihavelongfotteer,ieer:laiflahaiiallah,haadurasulullah.thereisnogodbutallahandhaadishisssenger.iseenohere,intheeyesofthepeopleinthisrridorofdesperation.thisistherealhouseofgod,thisis,nottheasjidondlightsandtoihereisagod,therehastobe,andnoalloftheseyears,fivethatihavebetrayed,lied,andsinnedpunityonlytotutohioyhourofneed,ipraythatheisasrittoryeverylastagetothatseverydayfrohisdayonifheonlygrantsthisoaihebloodofhisboytoo.</p>

ihearaperingandrealizeitisne,lipsaresaltyyfaeandstilliboysinshavenotcaughtupetheheywould.</p>

astarless,blaabad.itsafesittingnene;apakistagazineilinghollyaneezandae.everyoyuythroatg.</p>

ineedair.</p>

igetupaheingthroughthesellsofoverripedatesanddung.iffeelinginegazineandflipthroughthepages.butientfloor,atthebeet,atthedeadflieslitterihesillhaventheardanynews.</p>

thefloorbehbeginstofeellikepartofbody,ahingisgroyeyesandlieheaddoaybei:thethefauerazorihadshavedorethananything.itettheeyes.</p>

soon,sleepesaake.idreafthingsitreerlater.</p>

sooappingontheshoulder.iopehereisankneelingbeside.heisenbehindthesaskoverhisuthheartsinksask.hehastapedapiaskandiladidonthavetolookatsohrabsbloodanyre.hisskinisdarkliketheiortedsthebazaarinsharenau;hehasthinninghairandhazeleyestoppedehisnaisdr.nathisn,bee.hesaystheboyhadyuthbeginstotterthatprayeragain:</p>