“They didn’t have to do that. I’m usually in contact with my mother and when she didn’t hear from me on her birthday last Saturday, she started calling my phone.”
A cool breeze wafted through the window and teased Aziza’s skin. Such a tiny observation, but it made her glad to be alive.
“So, if you end up not staying, they’ll pair me up with another roommate.” Julene sounded despondent.
“I’ll tell you for sure what I’m doing in another couple of days,” Aziza said, although she knew this chapter of her life was closed. The news would filter down from personnel, eventually. Julene loved to talk, so staying quiet about her decision gave Aziza some level of privacy.
“For now, I’ll just grab some of my things. I’m staying at the hotel with Ryan, so you know where to reach me.”
She squeezed Sunita’s shoulder and they stood. The first thing Aziza did when they entered the bedroom was to open the drapes to let in more light. The street below was busy, as always, but the view was beautiful. Hanan was still a wonderful place, despite her misfortune. She packed a small bag and gathered her toiletries, plus her digital camera. The pictures held memories of her time in the country before disaster hit her. Everything else she needed rested with Ryan.
She had now been out of the suite for close to two hours, and a pang of anxiety squeezed her stomach and cast a shadow over her mood. Her gaze went to Sunita, who stood with both hands pressed to the glass. She was such a well-behaved child. Too well behaved. In her limited English, she had told Aziza she was happy to escape from El Zalaam.
Aziza listened in horror while Sunita shared that she was from neighboring Nadaum, and her father had sent her to the El Zalaam because their family had ten children and needed the money. She spent a year in El Zalaam, and though she was stoic as she told her story, Aziza knew the child would need therapy. No one walked away unscathed from being a sexual plaything. Not even a child this young.
With a light pitch to her voice, she said, “Let’s go, Sunita.”
The girl turned from the window and stood by the bed, gazing at the row of teddy bears lined up in front of the pillows. The longing in her eyes caught Aziza unawares. She took so much for granted, and Sunita’s wonder with every new experience made it obvious she’d never had much.
“Would you like one?” Aziza asked.
Sunita’s eyes shone when she looked at Aziza. “Yes, please.”
“Choose the one you like most,” Aziza said.
Sunita leaned against the mattress and picked up a fat brown and cream bear. She held it up. “This one.”
Picking up her bag, Aziza said, “Take another one.”
The child’s mouth opened, then she smiled. Her pure joy made Aziza eyes smart while her heart hurt. A soft pink and white bear went under Sanita’s other arm. Her teeth gleamed in a delighted grin.
“Let’s go back to our room.”
With her new toys pressed to her chest, Sunita nodded.
In the living room, Aziza and Julene exchanged another hug. Then Aziza and her small companion left for the hotel, which lay a few streets away. The walk was what Aziza needed to clear her head. Being in her old surroundings was a good thing. Now, more than ever, she was sure of what she wanted.
Her footsteps quickened the closer she came to the hotel. She rushed into the elevator and took Sunita’s hand as they walked down the corridor on their floor. Aziza sucked in a deep breath when they entered the suite, then switched on the television and scrolled to Discovery Kids. “You can watch cartoons for five minutes. Then we’ll grab something to eat, okay?”
Sunita gently laid the stuffed toys on the sofa bed. “Lunch.”
Aziza grinned. “Good girl. Yes, we’ll have lunch.”
She unpacked the bag, then dialed Ryan’s number. After their tense ten-minute call, she sent up a prayer of thanks that the missing women and Ryan were safe. Only the girls now remained to be found. Ryan had reassured her the other men were still chasing clues to discover their whereabouts.
She felt like celebrating this victory, and after washing her hands and face, she supervised Sunita in cleaning hers. Then she retrieved the camera from her bag with a wry smile, thinking how addicted she was to technology. For now, she didn’t have a phone but the camera might come in useful. A moment later, they headed downstairs to one of the cafes.
They sat at a table next to a wall of glass, which gave them a view of a golden urn spewing water. She ordered a hamburger and fries, which she shared with Sunita. Aziza had learned that everything was super-sized in Durabia.
The café was nearly empty and after Aziza glanced around them, she pointed to Sunita’s plate. “Do you remember what that is called?”
Holding a fry next to her lips, Sunita nodded. “Hamburger.”
“And what are you holding in your hand?”
“Frenchy fry?”
Aziza held back a grin. “French fry.”
With the utmost care, Sunita repeated her words then bit into the sliver of potato.
Her lips were wrapped around the burger bun when a familiar figure strode down the corridor directly in front of the restaurant. Aziza couldn’t miss Akbar. He had sleek, black hair that he styled and kept in place with mousse, but the feature that set him apart was the tiny stud he wore in one ear. The hotel held the staff to the strictest standards, but somehow he got away with wearing that diamond earring. His black, long-sleeve shirt let her know he was either on duty,
