When there is no fresh skin for his blows to land on, they fall on my already bruised and torn feet. My body is slick with sweat. My heart is racing. It’s difficult to breathe, but I know this will never end until I find the strength to push on. “Al Fatiha, Al Kauthar, and . . . Al Ikhlas.” Three short surahs necessary for the five daily prayers. The words come out of me, rasping, choking, barely audible. “If you make one mistake—one mistake—I will show you how I can really hurt you.”
