Friday night at her parents’, she announced she was considering a trip to Germany. She rushed to explain that she needed to clear her head, and immediately felt that she had blown her cover. That everyone at the table now knew that for the past two months she’d been in a bizarre relationship with a guy from Hadera who wasn’t even there, and that now she was considering whether to go on a vacation in Germany or to visit him. But her confession received only a nonchalant reaction. Her father recommended a hotel in central Berlin and her aunt patted her on the back and said it was important to have a bit of fun. Tamara smiled, slightly disappointed that once again she had been edged out of the center of attention.

8.

HER PARENTS INSISTED on driving her to the airport; they bid her farewell at the entrance to Ben Gurion, her father looking a little sad, her mother settling for a brief hug and rushing her off to the duty-free shops. Before they said goodbye, she took a selfie with her parents, thinking the ruse should start from the very first moment. She posted the photo along with the status Then we take Berlin, and told herself the tribute to Leonard Cohen made the lie a little less horrible.

She watched them walk away, already missing them terribly.

She entered the airport and slipped into the bathroom; squeezing herself into a stall along with her suitcase, she sidled up against the door, took her phone out of her left pocket, and called the airline. She had prepared an elaborate story for why she couldn’t make the flight, but the customer service lady didn’t even ask. Tamara opened her suitcase and fished out a long floral dress. She had gotten it from her mother a few years ago, and had since announced to anyone who would listen that she’d never wear it, hoping now that putting it on would make her harder to recognize.

Half an hour later, the cleaner having already knocked on the door twice asking if everything was okay, she came out of the stall. Taking the escalator downstairs, she passed by the arrivals hall and made it to the platform two minutes before the train’s departure. She quickly bought a ticket and boarded the last car, plopping her bag onto the seat next to her. Fixing her gaze on the floor, she prayed she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew. She was happy to discover that her selfie with her parents had been awarded eleven likes as well as a comment by some girl she didn’t know, who wrote “couldn’t be more jealous.”

Tamara leaned her head against the window and tried to fall asleep.

9.