ely over her shoulder. The city was stirring to life again after yesterday's storm - motorbikes humming down narrow lanes

wo days since

o Mb

ep, slipping quietly into her dreams. She told herself it was curiosity - nothing more - t

er camera, she knew it wasn't just that. It wa

d the street: "Lumeria doesn't just show you who she

rs with unreadable eyes. Today was about work. The exhibition deadline loomed closer than sh

rald, saffron, indigo - their colors bleeding into one another as the wind fluttered through them. Drummers played so

t time since she'd arrived, Amara felt like he

her baby to her back with a patterned kitenge. A group of schoolboys shari

tter felt like reclai

tured. The authenticity. The color. The rhythm of being

etching in the dirt with a stick. His bare feet were dusty, his expression oddly tho

ning. "A house," he said. "The

warming. "Can I ta

dded

in her heart. She showed him the screen, and his grin broke like sunli

old him. "It makes dreams rea

d. "You talk

her head. "

et. "He builds big houses. Always tells me storie

innocence in his tone. "Tha

boy waved and ran off, his laughter echoing behind him. Amara smiled to her

with people,"

eart stopping

e a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows again, and carried a file folder

. Then she swallowed, forcing stea

aid, a flicker of a smile on his lips.

kened. "Are yo

would you stop t

g curve of his mouth softened the wor

en calle

angos, papayas, pineapples stacked high like sunshine. "I came to me

amera again, pretending to adjust the f

treet ahead. "If you really want to photograph Lume

"And where

n there. The textile makers' row. Most people don't go b

nfident, certain - made her trust

she said. "

h the maze of vendors. The air grew thicker with the scent of dye and wet fabric.

ng them out with long sticks as the dye bled into water like spilled ink. Children ran barefoot,

uickly, almost breathlessly. Kairo watched q

rmured, lowering the len

. "You see what m

t him. "Or maybe I'm just se

em shifted - something unspoken

ted, pulling him back

She wore the kind of confidence that came from years of being seen an

aid to Kairo, her tone laced w

e replied evenly.

again - this time with thinly veiled

ro answered calmly, "A photog

he turned to Kairo. "Your client's waiting

d back at Amara. "It was

h something heavy settled

't. Then he turned and walked away beside Laila

pounding, unsure why she felt

alley - of the fabrics, the hands, the laughter - trying to f

cked the photo,

y as if looking back at her. The expression on his face wasn't i

long time, her pulse th

nd for the first time since arriving in Lumeria, Amara realized s

lready begun witho

if she was ready for