Allah favored Amina. Fatima was a vivacious and pretty young woman from a poor family. Her job as a servant to Amina brought her close, much closer to a better life. A formal education would not be an option for her. However, she did her best to educate herself like her mistress.  Outside of work, … Continue reading Day 14 →

Katya did not dare tell Hasan that she lost Amina for over an hour.  She merely related how she followed them to the souk. Amina had the driver drop her off on one end and park on the other. She walked through the market and bought nuts, and spices and a couple of scarves. Had … Continue reading Day 13 →

Well fed in a room with a real bed, instead of the streets or a vehicle, made Brian feel a new level of calm.  A shower sounded wonderful. He picked up his messenger bag and went into the bathroom for a shower. He locked the door put the bag as close to the shower as … Continue reading Day 12 →

Brian was so thankful that they were finally underway.  He pondered the possible causes of the panic attack in Casablanca. He went through his years in Afghanistan and the years of competition and couldn't find a single similar instance.  Keeping his wits was critical to his survival not only because of the potential threat from … Continue reading Day 11 →

Brian was almost in a panic. He could not remember a time when he felt so anxious, not even in Afghanistan. He wasn't exactly scared. But he felt hemmed in, lacking in options, unsure of the best course to take.  After nearly knocking the bookseller over, he started to run. He almost faced-planted himself a … Continue reading Day 10 →

Amina had finished her crying in the shower.  She knew what she had to do. She knew which sacrifices she would have to make.  She wondered if she had the strength.  Mentally, she scolded herself. Don't waste time wondering. You can. You will. You must.  She would seek the mystery man. If she found him … Continue reading Day 9 →

Brian walked as he relived his senior year in high school.  It was the sound of scuffing on metal that brought him back to the here and now.  He looked up just in time to see a fine figured woman do a Jason Bourne move from the 7th to the 6th floor.  It was not … Continue reading Day 8 →

Walking down the hall one day on the way to class he noticed a cluster of girls. Their giggling and chatter reminded him of chickens in a barnyard.  Stephanie joined the group and the whole atmosphere changed. Her mom went into the hospital the night before and she was crying. Soon a few other girls … Continue reading Day 7 →

It was the truth. Rock of Gibraltar truth. He was on a hunt.  When he told inquisitive strangers that he was seeking awareness he was not lying.  He let them think he was looking for some spiritual awakening. Maybe that was part true but what he was really trying to do is rediscover who he … Continue reading Day 6 →

Brian woke with a start. People and things were moving around him. It took him a few minutes to orient himself and remember why he was here.  Before he dropped the journals off at the FedEx office he took pics of 5 pages.  He was absolutely certain that no one had followed him.  The FedEx … Continue reading Day 5 →