Her happiness is burning like a bright flame. To extinguish it will be your second crime. But she is reaching out for something that does not exist. You never dreamed that there was such a simple solution to your problems. Well, there you have love, freedom, honor, peace of mind. And where do you stand? So much, so late.

“Why are you so pensive? I expected you to jump with joy.”

The time has come! “I told you many times that I was not worthy of you; why didn’t you believe me?”

“I expected you to jump with joy.”

“It’s too late,” he almost wailed.

“Oh my God, you don’t love me.”

“Elham. Things are much more complicated. I loved you at first sight. But who am I?”

“Don’t tell me about your father, your poverty, or your worthiness.”

Oh, the hell I’m going through. There’s no other way but to tell the truth.

“You are still suffering from the flu. You’re sitting with me, but where is Saber? The Saber I knew when we first met?”

“Don’t ever ask that question again.”

“If you’re ill…”

“No. It’s not illness.”

“Then what, what? What is the matter? Why did you say it’s too late?” She was very close to tears.

“Did I say that?”

“Just a few seconds ago.”

“I mean only one thing. I’m not worthy of you.”

“Don’t be idiotic. I love you,” she said angrily.

“That’s my crime. Unfortunately we thought only of love.”

“And why is that a crime?”

“Because I should have told you the truth about myself.”

“You did. And I accepted it.”

“I spoke of my father, but…” Then bitterly he continued: “But not about my mother.”

She looked at him defiantly. “I love you, you. Your past has got nothing to do with it.”

“You must listen.”

“For God’s sake, let her rest in peace.”

“All of Alexandria knows what I’m going to tell you.”

Then with vehemence mixed with bitterness and sorrow, he burst out: “She ended her days in jail!”

She started, disbelievingly, as if she were looking at a madman.

“Now do you understand?” Swallowing hard, he continued: “The government confiscated all her property, and that is the reason for my poverty. She left me with a hope that has destroyed me.” The shock was brutal. But she’ll recover. “I have no right to love someone like you. Only the loose women I’ve known all my life. But what could I do? I was helpless in my love for you.”

She was silent. Struck dumb. That’s good. No questions. Otherwise, you would have had to tell the whole story.

“My pure love for you is my only compensation. All my life I’ve spent in sin. It’s the only thing I can do. Sin.”