“I’m not sure how she was related to us, but I remember Mamatold me she knew if someone was close to death. It wasn’t a bad omen in the village, but actually it meant the person had time to say goodbye. It was a mercy.” She sighs. “I wished I could see the dead. Just a blessing so I can see Mama.”
“But you do have a blessing,” I whisper. “We all do.”
“Yeah,” Amal says quietly. “I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder. Tell me. Is everything okay in school?”
I almost tell her about the bullying, but I can’t bring myself to. I don’t want her worried sick about me, feeling helpless because she’s not here. Baba is here, and he won’t be able to do anything. Not him against the entire school full of lawyers’ and judges’ kids. Mama was murdered, and the police didn’t help. So there’s no reason to bring up anything.
“Alexis and I aren’t friends anymore,” I say instead.
“Oh. That’s horrible. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It’ll be okay. I just feel stupid.”
“What happened?”
I chew on my tongue. “Her friends didn’t really like me, and we just fell apart.”
Amal makes an annoyed sound. “Okay, I hate her.”
I laugh.
I hear Amal shifting. “My stomach popped out, and they don’t tell you enough how uncomfortable that is. The baby thinks my bladder is a squeeze toy. But listen, friendship breakups are horrible. They happen toeveryone. They’re definitely going to happen to Alexis. You don’t usually get definite closure, but you’ll move on. To way better friends.”
“Well, I did make another friend.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“His name is Jamie, and he recently converted to Islam.” I try hiding the smile from my voice, but my sister hears it all the same. I’m glad I’m telling Amal about him, and if Mama were alive, I’d have told her too. Even Baba, if he weren’t a ghost to me.
“Friendor…” she begins, dragging out the word.
“Friend,” I say firmly.
“You sure?” she singsongs.
“Oh my God,” I mutter, and she laughs. “He’s Vietnamese and has the personality of a golden retriever. And he grew up on a farm. He sends me all the notes from class every single day.”
“And he likes you? The black-cat personality?”
“How dare you? I’m a ray of sunshine.”
We both burst out laughing at the same time.
“I’m glad you have someone on your team,” Amal says, happiness in her voice. I falter, but she continues, “Other than that, and I don’t want to make you upset, do you want to talk to a therapist? You said the colors are back.”
I glance around my room to see them swimming hazily.
“They are. I have a lot on my plate right now. But I’ll think about it.”
“Good,” she says, sounding relieved. “I have to go pee. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I need to study for AP exams to deserve halal P.F. Chang’s in Doha.”
“Oh my God, Jihad. I’m literally making an Excel sheet of all the places we’ll be eating at. I don’t care if you’re full. You’re eating.”
I grin, daring to think about next summer.
When the mural shows up the next day, Jamie bombards my phone with his messages.
