His admission surprised me.
He could have blamed me. He could have used the situation to escape an arranged marriage without taking responsibility for his own choices.
Instead, he acknowledged his part in what had happened.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” he added. “But I won’t stand here and pretend you were the only one who made a mistake.”
My mother sank onto the sofa.
My father said nothing.
Zayd’s mother looked deeply embarrassed.
Finally, she spoke.
“I think we should leave.”
Nobody objected.
There was no engagement agreement, no joyful discussion of wedding dates, and no promise that our families would soon be joined.
The meeting that had begun with smiles and expectations ended with everyone avoiding everyone else’s eyes.
As Zayd prepared to leave, he looked at me one last time.
For a second, I thought he might say something cruel.
Instead, he gave me a small nod.
