our bellies became sick . Carrying pails of water . Competing to pick the most blue greens or pluck the highest sparrow fruit on the tree . In faith , he was , as all the other boys around me , a brother , but in truth he was much more than that .
We shared our first kiss at the dawning of our adulthood and caressed our maturing bodies under the sheltering leaves of the sap tree until we were sweaty and giddy with excitement . I planned to love him forever , but it was not enough .
When he asked me to marry him , I laughed . A high , breathless sound that carried no weight at all .
“ What nonsense is this ?” I asked , trying to squint past the sun in my eyes . I felt sure he was making fun of me , the way he always did .
It was only when I did not hear his laughter with mine that I shifted my gaze to see his face . He was not smiling back at me . I had hurt him , though with all my heart I had not meant to . Confused , I reached for him .
“ Safi … what have I done ? Tell me ?”
“ Is my love a joke ? I speak truly , Aferi . I want you to be with me and only me .”
“ I am with you . I will always be with you .” I still did not understand .
“ I have been accepted into the Guild of Welders . I am almost a man , Aferi .”
My smile felt tentative as it tugged its way across my mouth , but I closed the distance between us . Slowly , I stroked the taut muscles of his abdomen , then rested my hand at the knot that held his pants in place . “ I know ,” I answered , searching his face for the openness that had always been there .
His hand came over mine , hard and unmovable .
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