The Bird Tattoo by Dunya Mikhail

Author:Dunya Mikhail
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Published: 2022-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

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One night, Helen stayed up with Elias to watch the film Titanic. They cried together at the scene of people drowning. That scene came to Helen’s mind the next day after she walked with Elias on the Ancient Bridge over the Tigris River.

There was a capsized boat in the river. Elias commented, “Our ship will not sink, not because our captain is more skilled but because our river is without water or salt.”

They were on their way to the gift shop so that Helen could make her usual delivery of handkerchiefs. From there, Elias would continue to the Nineveh offices. Helen was wearing Shaima’s abaya. She had heard the gang harmed women whose heads were uncovered.

When she had first put it on, Elias had joked with Helen, singing the beginning of a song: “How beautiful is your abaya.” But he kidded less and less these days. He seemed bewildered and worried like never before.

On the street, she held her husband’s arm and said, “Try not to be too late today.”

He stopped walking for a moment, and so she did the same. He gave her the deep look she knew well. Finally, Elias said, “I think before going to work I should get you and the family up to your parents in Halliqi.”

“No. No need for that.”

“The situation here does not look good.”

“I’ll get home quickly,” Helen reassured him. “You go to work, and I will pack a bag and wait for you.”

“Don’t forget to include some Arrow gum for your father and Azad.”

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