The old woman’s head had slid down onto Hana’s shoulder. Acting on an uneasy feeling, Hana grabbed the old woman’s hand and tried to feel for her pulse. “Stop, Ali. Stop right now,” she moaned. Her father turned to her. “She’s dead,” Hana said. Hana couldn’t stop trembling. Was this their future too? Only more death, more ruin? Maybe she should’ve taken that knife to her arm after all. She placed a hand on her belly while cradling Sulima in her other arm, the baby starting to cry. No, she wanted to live, she had to live, for this little life inside her, and perhaps for this one she held. No
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