I want to tear myself from this place, from this reality, rise up like a cloud and float away, melt into this humid summer night and dissolve somewhere far, over the hills. But I am here, my legs blocks of concrete, my lungs empty of air, my throat burning. There will be no floating away.

The Chinese say it's better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one.

The finger cut, to save the hand.

I guess some stories do not need telling.

Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride price and child marriage, and to enforce women to be involved in school. Every time, the reaction from the traditionalists was one of contempt and scorn and at times outright rebellion. I think the emancipation of women in Afghanistan has to come from inside, through Afghans themselves, gradually, over time.

You’re not going to cry, are you? - I am not going to cry! Not over you. Not in a thousand years.

The impact had cut your upper lip in two, he had said, clean down the middle. Clean down the middle. Like a harelip.