The Pearl that Broke Its Shell

by Nadia Hashimi

Munis and Aqela, the songbird, in white cloth, the traditional garb for the deceased. Shekiba sniffled quietly, knowing she would be haunted by the memory of helping her moaning father to dig the graves for her teenage brothers and delicate Aqela, who had just turned ten. Shekiba and her parents were among the survivors.

four years old, he was long overdue and they thought a wife and children would bring him back to normal, but Padar-jan, just like the rest of the country, had forgotten what normal was. Madar-jan was barely eighteen when they were wed. I imagine she must have been as terrified on her wedding night as I was on mine. Sometimes I wonder why she did not warn me, but I suppose those are not things women should speak of. As the country planned for new beginnings, so did my parents. My

men last week. They want those people

“Shekiba! Lower your voice! Forget what they said.

will bring you here from time to time to see your mother and your sisters.”

stomach uneasy. A house under stress had never boded well for her.