I arrived at my Mother's small condo in the suburbs shortly after eight, just a few minutes late. Hank opened the door, and welcomed me in with a hear...y handshake and a twinkle in his eye. He was a big, strapping guy, quite a bit younger than Mom. He had a dark tan and looked more like a surfer than the real estate agent that I knew him to be.I stepped inside while Hank closed the door behind me. The aroma of chicken dinner permeated the condo - Mom had been busy in the kitchen. I wondered if. Theaches and the stinging had gone and I began to feel sleepy, nothingmattered to me now, nothing cared. Perhaps it was the drugs, perhaps Iwas just worn out; whatever it was, I fell asleep and didn't wake untillate in the afternoon.Later that evening Mummy returned with Grandma and Aunty Pauline. Shewaved to me and smiled then chatted to the nurses while Grandma and AuntyPauline sat beside my bed and offered me some chocolates. I pauseduncertainly."I'm not sure if I'm allowed those yet. I'm. We could be at Gran-gran's."If you have family photos taken at our Great Grandmother's house, you will be there for days. We shake on that one - well, one of those fist-to-fist things but it means the same thing - and wait for Uncle George to run out of film. Finally, pleading that we have to get our dates we escape and get to Lisa's for the next round of photos.She's wearing this pretty blue thing with a shawl around her shoulders that doesn't quite hide the bruise on her arm. It is hand. She went back to the university. She knew that Rey will tell her everything afterwards anyway.In the evening, after the lectures, Amira, Zainab’s roommate, confronted her.“You better tell me what’s going on,” she said walking out of the campus with her.“I can, but not here.”“Sure, let’s go back to the hostel.”“No, Amira,” Zainab said, pulling her by her elbow.“Going to the hotels alone is why I’m in this mess in the first place. I can’t go there again.”“Okay,” Amira said, crossing her arms over.