The lock in the door clicked open, and I leapt up from my seat, crying, “Miss Zahra!” But it was the wild blond guy, Hazim, who appeared, carrying a breakfast tray and apologizing preemptively for his absence the previous day on account of extra duties Dr. Andrew had assigned him. Doctor? Bravo! Miss Zahra disappears, I become a prisoner in my hotel, and Mr. Andrew becomes a doctor!

“I want to see him immediately,” I said. “Did you convey my request yesterday? I won’t stay in this hotel after today. Not one day longer!”

“Yes, of course, I let him know. He promised to come as soon as you’ve finished your breakfast.”

I wasn’t hungry. Rather, I was hungry, but it wasn’t real hunger. I felt empty, like I needed something to fill me up, no matter what it was. Empty and disjoined, about to curl up like a snail. My bones were melting, my muscles turning to jelly. My transformation into a mollusk was suddenly possible; indeed, it was inevitable. I could no longer stand on my feet and keep ahold of myself.

I picked up a small pita and tore it in two, dipping half into the yogurt and oil. I took a bite. I shoved a couple olives into my mouth, two mint leaves, and half a small cucumber, and began moving my jaws up and down. I nearly spit it all out as it mashed together and almost squeezed out of my mouth, but I was able to keep my stomach down, and together we somehow passed the trial. I ate the other half of the pita with the same determination, finishing it off with a few gulps of tea. I added extra sugar to give me the energy I needed to confront this despicable conspiracy that was being plotted against me.

I felt the warmth passing into my limbs and my veins suffused with energy. It was only a matter of seconds before Andrew appeared, in a dark gray suit I had not seen before. He had shaved and was moving briskly.

“I haven’t been to the office yet,” he surprised me by saying. He proceeded to set his black leather bag on the table and give Hazim a sign to step out and leave us alone. Then he pulled the chair back from the table and settled onto it.

As soon as Hazim closed the door behind him, I addressed him in a tone that meant business. “Mr. Andrew, my time here is done. I want you to draw up my bill, because I’ve decided to leave.”

Andrew stared at the floor in silence. After a few seconds, he spoke, without raising his eyes to look at me. “Do you really want to leave us after all these years? I know you are annoyed because we locked you in, but what Miss Zahra said left me very concerned. I persuaded her not to tell anyone about your conversation together, otherwise the police would have come back, and you’d have to take it up with them. That, as you know, would not have turned out well at all for you. In any case, perhaps we need to resume your former treatment. I consulted your brother, Sa’id, on the matter, and he thinks—”