He put down his books.

Ten minutes later, the three of them left.

Farid walked slightly ahead.

Soraya and Laila followed behind, completely covered.

At one point a bus passed carrying boys roughly Laila’s age.

Some were laughing.

One was asleep against the window.

One held a mathematics textbook.

Laila watched until the bus disappeared.

“Stop looking around,” Soraya said quietly.

“I wasn’t doing anything.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you say that?”

Her mother did not answer.

They reached the relative’s house shortly before five.

Laila’s grandmother was weaker than expected but stable.

A doctor had already visited.

Everyone relaxed.

Tea was made.

Someone brought bread.

For an hour, the room almost felt like the family gatherings Laila remembered from childhood.

Women talked.

Someone laughed too loudly.

An aunt complained about food prices.

Mina sent a voice message asking when they would return.

Then one of Laila’s cousins, twenty-two-year-old Zahra, entered the room.

Laila had not seen her in months.

Zahra used to study journalism.

Now she taught English privately to three girls in her family’s sitting room.

“How many students?” Laila asked.

“Three.”

“Only three?”

“Four if one girl’s father changes his mind.”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

Zahra shrugged.

“He thinks English is unnecessary now.”

Laila understood.

Unnecessary for what?

Neither said it.

Zahra looked toward the older women.

“Come upstairs.”

They climbed to the roof.

Late afternoon light covered Kabul in pale gold.

From there, Laila could see dozens of roofs.

Water tanks.

Satellite dishes.

Laundry moving in the wind.

A flock of pigeons crossed the sky.

Zahra leaned against the wall.

“What would you study if everything opened tomorrow?”

Laila answered instantly.

“Medicine.”

Zahra smiled.

“You didn’t even think.”

“I’ve had years to think.”

“Do you still study?”

“Sometimes.”

“Sometimes means no.”

Laila looked at her.

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

Zahra was quiet.

Then:

“I don’t know.”

They both laughed.

It was not funny.

From the street below came the sound of children playing.

Then a young girl began singing.

Only a few lines.

An older woman immediately called her inside.