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the room again, but no one is there until I look back into the mirror, and there he is. Our eyes meet, and at once, I have no desire to ever cease staring into his mesmerizing, amber eyes. He speaks again: “I will come for you tonight.” His words settle in my head, and I become numb. It is as if I the beautiful stranger’s words have hypnotized me, captured my soul, and I am, at once, willing to give myself over to this intruder.
    But the spell is broken when Mira taps on the door. “Eramane, do not wrap your wound when you are finished. I want your brother to see what he did to you.”
    “Fine,” I say, agitated by the intrusion. I finish my bath and wrap a linen robe around me. As I walk to my room, I notice that the pain has subsided, and my foot is only a little tender.

    “Does it hurt?” Samiah asks, waiting for me to sit and prop my foot on the bed. He takes my foot in his hand, inspecting it. “Eramane, this does not look so bad. Why did mother stitch it?”
    “Because it was much worse yesterday, Samiah, and maybe the astringent that mother used helped it along.”
    “I’d say. I should cut the stitches out. It looks like they can be removed,” he says.
    “I will do it tonight. It cannot hurt to leave them in a bit longer.”
    “Are you sure you are all right?” Samiah asks.
    “I am fine.” I try to rise from the bed, but Samiah and Mira are huddled over me as if I have just been pierced with an arrow and they are trying to decipher my last words.
    “Hit me,” Samiah says. “Smack me straight across the face. I deserve it.”
    “I am not slapping you, Samiah. It was an accident, after all.”
    “C’mon,” he teases, turning his head to the side so I have a good target. “Right here.” He taps his cheek.
    “Why not leave and let me finish getting dressed? Lebis will be here any moment now.”
    “Suit yourself,” he says. Then he leans down and kisses my head. “I am sorry, sister. Heal quickly.” Samiah turns to his wife. “I will be outside tending the horses,” he says, pulling the door closed behind him.
    “Your foot is healing well, but it still needs to be wrapped,” Mira says, putting my foot in her lap. We sat on the bed in their guest room while she tended to my injury. “You should sleep fine in here,” Mira says. “We just purchased this bed, and it is stuffed full of goose feathers.” She moves my leg off of her lap and stands to brush my hair.
    “I can do that,” I say, not wanting to feel like a burden.
    “Nonsense, Eramane. I love to fix up hair. Besides, I am going to need the experience if our baby is a girl.” Mira pauses, waiting for me to catch on. I do.
    “You are with child?” I ask, filled with excitement.
    “Yes,” she says, swelling with joy. I stand and hug her.
    “I have to go congratulate Samiah,” I say, starting for the door.
    “He does not know yet,” Mira says. “I have not told him because I wanted to make absolutely sure.”
    “What do you mean?” I ask.
    “I will have missed my second cycle in a few days. Once I make it that far along, I will know for certain; but, Eramane, I feel it already.” Her eyes glisten with tears.
    “You are pregnant, Mira. Oh, I am so happy for you both!” We hug again and then she pushes me back.
    “Now, let us get your hair done before Lebis arrives.” Mira pulls my hair back and braids it all the way down to my waistline, tying it with sand-colored ribbon. Then she places the bird-wing hairpin just above my ear. “All that is left is to put on your yellow dress. I will be in the kitchen,” Mira says.
    Lebis will be here soon, but my beautiful yellow dress is becoming a nuisance. The length is bothersome because of my wrapped foot, and the bottom of the dress keeps tangling between my feet. But I love this dress, and I am determined to wear it. I look myself over in the mirror. The hairpin and ribbon stand out against my dark brown tresses. I lift my hand to touch the hairpin; I love it.