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happened, but you don’t exist."
    Daniel held his head. Nothing was right anymore. He got up and thanked the clerk for her effort. The next day, he got up early in the morning. He knew somehow he needed to take care of things regarding his ID. At six thirty in the morning he could be calm. Immigration police don’t work during such hours. That same day he worked vigorously. The fact he was invited to Neta's house gave him energy and enthusiasm. Time flew quickly, and he was glad to lie down in bed after a long day of work and fall asleep without any worries or thoughts. He was awakened by a loud banging at the door. At the entrance were two police officers dressed in civilian suits. "You're under arrest for illegal residency." Daniel couldn’t endure it anymore. There was no way he could defend himself or even speak for himself. He was helpless. He remembered his grandfather's threat, and presumed his hands were the ones driving his life. For the first time, he gave up his destiny. He felt he was at the end of his rope. He felt defeated, cheated and humiliated. He didn’t even have the desire to call Neta, and left her expecting and preparing for his visit. She asked for some recipes from her friends to impress him. She borrowed a table cloth to cover the worn old table. Although she knew Daniel’s condition was worse than hers, she was still bothered by the appearance of her house where poverty was reflected in every corner. She warned her parents not to fight and, just to make sure, she dripped a small dose of sedatives into their drinks.
    Neta was so excited waiting for Daniel’s arrival. Every little sound in the house led her to the door, expecting to hear the doorbell. She imagined his handsome face showing up on the doorstep, which was more mature and handsome to her than she remembered. This was enough to overwhelm her with joy and give her butterflies in her stomach. In the last couple of years, she met quite a few men, but they all bounced off and fled just after they met her parents. She was sure Daniel wouldn’t be bothered by them. It was not only because she knew him but it was because of the connection they had that nothing could break apart. She looked at herself in the mirror, pleased with the reflection, and was willing to forgive herself for the terrible expense of buying a special dress and expensive shoes for the event. She straightened her hair and hoped Daniel would love it more than the curls.
    It was seven o’clock, the time they agreed to meet. Daniel still did not arrive. Neta believed he would be a little bit late. Time passed and he did not show up. She realized the person who she felt was so close to her soul was a disappointment. He took advantage of her just to get away from the police. Just as the danger was gone, he was gone too. Even though she had no desire to, she joined her parents, who were sitting at the table.
    "What happened? Is he not coming?" her mother asked.
    "Don’t you see he’s not here? Why are you asking?" her husband nagged at her.
    "Shut up!"
    ‘Here we are’, Neta thought, ‘as if I don’t have enough on my mind.’
    "Stop fighting or I will get up from the table!"
    "It’s not me, it’s your father," her mother replied.
    Neta got up from the table, irritated, and went to her bed. She heard her mother yell at her. "Who are you angry with? It's not our fault he didn't come!" She continued to talk. Neta covered her head with a blanket and fell into self-pity. Who needs a woman with crazy parents anyway? Even if she did find a man who will agree to date her, one petty fight between her parents would cause him to leave her.

7
    Daniel had been away from his home for fifteen years. He sat on the plane that would take him back to Romania, trying to recall the memories of the past, different events that happened to him during the course of his life. Neta was the only one on his mind, just as it was when he was in custody for the last three months. All the while, he