Page 120 - The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner 109

watch, this was the part where I’d run outside, my bare feet
splashing rainwater. I’d chase the car, screaming for it to stop. I’d
pull Hassan out of the backseat and tell him I was sorry, so sorry,
my tears mixing with rainwater. We’d hug in the downpour. But
this was no Hindi movie. I was sorry, but I didn’t cry and I didn’t
chase the car. I watched Baba’s car pull away from the curb, tak-
ing with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name.
I caught one final blurry glimpse of Hassan slumped in the back-
seat before Baba turned left at the street corner where we’d played
marbles so many times.
I stepped back and all I saw was rain through windowpanes
that looked like melting silver.