Vision in Red by Sajjad Rasool - HTML preview

Vision in Red

Just a dumpster. Just a pile of trash. Just her imagination, still poisoned by everything she had seen and heard over the past two days.

But she didn't believe that anymore. She couldn't.

The decision came to her while she was braiding Noor's hair for school.

"I'm going to visit Yasmin today," she said, her fingers working through the familiar motions. "At the clinic where she works."

Noor held still, patient as always. "The one for children who are very sad?"

"Yes. That one."

"Are you going to ask her about the watchers?"

Amal's hands paused. "How do you know that's what I want to ask about?"

"Because that's what everyone wants to ask about now." Noor's voice was matter-of-fact. "Layla says the grown-ups are starting to see them too. She says that's how it starts. First the children, then the mothers, then everyone. Eventually nobody can pretend anymore."

Amal finished the braid and tied it off, her hands trembling slightly. "Habibi, I want you to stay with Um Khalil today until I come back. Can you do that?"

"Okay." Noor turned to look at her, her small face serious. "But Mama—be careful at the clinic. There's one there. A very old one. Yasmin knows about it. She's been trying to keep it quiet."

The words sent a chill down Amal's spine. "How do you know that?"

"The children talk," Noor said simply. "We all know where they are."

Um Khalil answered her door with red-rimmed eyes and a handkerchief clutched in her fist.

"Amal. Come in, come in." She stepped aside, her movements heavy with grief. "Excuse the mess. It's been... a difficult night."

The apartment was dim, the curtains drawn against the morning light. Amal could smell coffee brewing and something else underneath—the scent of too many tears and not enough sleep. The television was on in the corner, showing footage of the water distribution point, the same images cycling every few minutes as if the news had nothing else to report.

"Um Khalil, what happened?"

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