The Only One

“What on earth is happening?” I demanded, looking around. “Who are they, and why did they come here?”

“Shush,” the nanny hissed at me. “They’ll catch you. You’ll be begging for death.”

I nervously giggled. But Yasmína’s expression looked cold and calm.

“Did your father owe someone money? Did he lose in a casino? Has war started? Was he fired? Did he get caught taking a bribe?” I began listing the most insane ideas that came to mind.

“Who are these people, and what are they doing here?” I repeated stubbornly.

“These are people from Walid al-Alabi,” Yasmína said with a grimace. She went quiet for a moment, and then—right into my head like a checkmate—she delivered the final thought:

“They came to court you.”