CHAPTER 21

I Am Philothei (4)

Ibrahim comes creeping up and finds me every time I go out on an errand, and I say, “What if we get caught?” and he says, “Who cares? We’re getting married one day anyway,” and I say, “But it’s not decent!” and he just shrugs, and I am really scared about getting caught, but so far it’s been all right, and it’s true that our fathers have come to an agreement, and my mother is already thinking about things for the dowry box and we’re going to embroider some blankets. He says, “Now that you’re twelve, you’re old enough to marry,” and I say, “But you’re not,” and he says nothing, but just takes my hand and looks at me hard in the eyes, and I can see that his eyes are dark and glowing, and it makes my stomach buzz, and then he very carefully places the back of my hand first against his chest, then against his forehead, then against his lips, and finally, before he turns and leaves, back against his heart.