Page 129 - A Woman Is No Man

“Maybe not. But pretending nothing’s wrong is not protecting yourself.
If anything, it’s much more dangerous to live pretending to be someone
you’re not.”

Deya shrugged.
“Believe me, I know how you feel. I’ve been exactly where you are
now. You don’t have to pretend with me.”
“Well, I’ve been pretending my whole life,” Deya said. “It’s not
something I can just turn off. You see, I’m a storyteller.”
“A storyteller?”
Deya nodded.

“But don’t you think stories should be used to tell the truth?”
“No, I think we need stories to protect us from the truth.”
“Is that how you plan to live your life? Pretending?”
“What else am I supposed to do?” Deya could feel her hands begin to
sweat. “What’s the point of saying what I think, or asking for what I want,
if it will only lead to trouble? It’s not like speaking up will get me

anywhere. It’s better to just pretend everything is fine and do what I’m
supposed to do.”
“Oh, Deya, that’s not true,” Sarah said. “Please give me a chance to
help. To be your friend. I grew up in the same house as you did, with the
same people. If anyone is going to understand you, it’s me. All I’m asking
is that you give me a chance. What you choose to do in the end is up to you.
I just want you to know all your options.”

Deya considered. “Are you going to be honest with me?”
“Yes,” she said with conviction.
“What about my parents? Will you tell me the truth about the car
accident?”
Sarah paused. “What are you talking about?”
“The car accident that killed them. I know there’s more to it.”

Another pause. For the first time, Deya could see nervousness on
Sarah’s face.
“How much do you know about your parents? About Isra?”
“Not much,” Deya said. “Teta refuses to talk about them most of the
time, but last week she showed me a letter my mother wrote before she
died.”
“What letter?”

“It was to her mother. Teta found it in one of her books after she died.”