And that was how my new morning routine began, one without Rafi. Each morning I woke up early, dressed in boy’s clothing, and slid out the window. Then, I would quickly make my way to Kamal. We would then walk out into the early morning sun. It reminded me of Rafi. But I didn’t want to think about him. I didn’t want to think of Kamal as just a replacement for him, a spot-filler, until Rafi came back. Not that he would…
“Kamal,” I said one dreary morning, the sky overcast and filling with dark, luminous clouds. “There’s something that I think I should tell you.”
“What is it, Layla?”
“Umm, well, you see…I’m supposed to get married soon.”
He stopped walking and looked at me in shock. His mouth was gaping slightly.
“Layla-,” he started, but I interrupted him.
“I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”
“That’s what I was just about to say.”
“Kamal, I don’t know what to do! My parents arranged it because they thought it would make me a bit happier. But they were so, so, wrong. I don’t know how to get them to understand me.”
Kamal stood unmoving, thinking for a moment. Then we started walking again. “I feel as if I know your parents after we have talked about them so much. And I hate to say it, but I agree with you. I have absolutely no idea of what to do.”
I sighed. “I guess that’s kind of what I expected you to say.”
Kamal laughed lightly, flashing a few dazzling white teeth in my direction. I felt a familiar twang of pain in my heart as I thought of leaving Kamal. It was like Rafi all over again…
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When It Is Forbidden
Historical FictionImagine having so many rules you have to follow, it's hard to keep track of. Imagine being ranked lower than a dog in society. This is what life is like for 15-year-old Layla who live in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban. Join her on her...
