Nahumi stood still for a few minutes, the cloth covering her head. She heard footsteps— a woman was approaching her stealthily.

  “—Alkhi,” the woman whispered as she drew closer to Nahumi.

  Nahumi realized something was wrong. Her breathing quickened; her chest felt heavy. Without thinking much, she walked in a random direction. Her pace increased with every step, barely watching where she was going. She quickly turned her head to look back and see if they were following her.

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  And they were. A small group of women followed her at a distance of three meters. Nahumi began to run. Maybe she was next. Her foot stepped where it shouldn’t have, and the world tilted for a second. Nahumi fell to the ground, sprawled. She only waited for the small group to end her existence.

  But then she felt someone approaching. Suddenly, she saw a hand reaching out to help her up. Without thinking, Nahumi grabbed it. As she brushed the dust off her rags, she looked at the person who had helped her.

  There stood a male figure, with skin so pale it seemed it had never known the anger of the three suns. It was astonishing—how had such white skin not burned under the fury of the northern desert? When she looked into his eyes, she was startled. Nahumi took a step back. Beautiful eyes with heterochromia stared at her, never breaking their gaze.

  Could it be him? Nahumi thought.

  In the silence, she heard a sweet, calm voice.

  “—Is everything all right?”

  The voice asked. Nahumi glanced to both sides.

  “—Yes, yes. I’m in a hurry, so I’m leaving.”