covered　my　face　with　my

veil　and　waited；　listening　to　his　footsteps。

Black　passed　through　the　doorway　and　saw　me；　then　took　a　few　more　steps

and stopped。 We stood five paces apart and beheld each other。 He looked

healthier　and　stronger　than　he’d　appeared　through　the　peephole。　There　was　a

silence。

“Remove　your　veil；”　he　said　in　a　whisper。　“Please。”

“I’m　married。　I’m　awaiting　my　husband’s　return。”

“Remove your veil；” he said in the same tone。 “Your husband won’t ever

e　back。”

“Have　you　arranged　to　meet　me　here　to　tell　me　this？”

“Nay；　I’ve　done　so　to　be　able　to　see　you。　I’ve　been　thinking　of　you　for　twelve

years。　Remove　your　veil；　my　darling；　let　me　look　at　you　just　once。”

I removed it。 I was pleased as he silently studied my face and stared at

length　into　the　depths　of　my　eyes。

“Marriage　and　motherhood　have　made　you　even　more　beautiful。　And　your

face　has　bee　entirely　different　than　what　I　remembered。”

“How　had　you　remembered　me？”

“With　agony；　because　when　I　thought　of　you；　I　couldn’t　help　but　think　that

what I was remembering wasn’t you but a fantasy。 In our childhood； you

remember how we used to discuss Hüsrev and Shirin； who fell in love after

seeing　images　of　each　other；　don’t　you？　Why　was　it　that　Shirin　hadn’t　fallen　in

love　with　handsome　Hüsrev　when　first　she