It took me a moment to realize she wasn’t there, and a few more moments to notice that the front door hadn’t been locked. I started running hysterically from room to room, searching for her in every corner of the B&B; in her bedroom and ours, and the bathroom and the kitchen and inside and behind the closets, but the girl wasn’t there. I kept at it for maybe five frenzied minutes before finally realizing that she simply wasn’t in the B&B. I went outside, stood in the yard, and dialed Nelly’s number, but hung up after one ring because what could Nelly possibly do about it? I ran around the B&B, but she wasn’t there. I ran toward the sheep, the road, but Shira was nowhere to be found. And the only thought resonating clearly in all that insanity made absolutely no sense. That maybe the girl had finally given up her life here and found a way to dissipate into her dreams. That she had left reality behind and dove into her worlds, far beyond our reach, without a trace in the here and now. I was growing more and more convinced of it, until I saw Shira. In front of me. She was standing alone, a tiny dot on the hilltop, pretty close to the edge. Perched on top of the red hill, gazing into the abyss. Before I could process the sight, I was already running toward her as fast as my legs would carry me. My body took charge, racing in her direction. I roared out her name, over and over again, but she didn’t turn to look at me. I was afraid I wasn’t going to make it. But then I saw someone swooping up from behind her. Lunging at her. Nabil. He gathered my child in his arms, pulling her into his chest. Then he turned around and started walking down the hill with slow, heavy steps, kicking up a trail of red dust behind him. I saw Shira calmly falling asleep in his arms. Even my jealousy couldn’t dampen my relief. I ran toward them, trying to rid myself of the sense of helplessness.

“Thank god you found her!” I shouted, and from twenty meters away already launched into a defensive monologue. That I had gone out for a meeting only because I had no other choice. And had locked the house. I was sure I had. And I couldn’t understand how she had gotten out, I really couldn’t. And that I know, I was an idiot for not telling him I had left the girl alone. Nabil nodded, and when I finally stood next to them, I fell silent. The whole world had been whittled down to her little body. Shira was the only thing I cared about. I hugged her as tightly as possible. Nabil let go, and I gathered her into me, shielding her.