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He poured a cup of tea and offered it to me.
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
He took a sip of his glass before setting it down. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I summoned you.”
“The thought has crossed my mind.”
He fixed me with a hard stare, and I resisted the urge to squirm under his scrutiny. “I just wanted to speak to you about something important.”
I waited, my heart thumping in my chest, as I clutched my hands tighter to keep them from shaking. I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear it.
It could only be one thing.
Grief, anger, and fear warred within me as I waited for him to continue.
He finally leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “Your grandmother would be so proud of you,” he whispered, his voice breaking on the last word.
I swallowed hard and nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
“You’ve grown into a strong and independent woman, just like her.”
“Did they choose me?” I interrupted him.
“The Council has decided.” Uncle Mehdi didn’t look at me. “But it’s not you.”
Sinking back in my chair, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The tension in my body dissipated.
It was not me. I would not have to go through it.
But then, who was it?
Why did uncle Mehdi look so sad? If it wasn’t me, then who was it?
“Why am I here?”
“It appeared to be a decent thing to do.” His eyes focused on the newspaper. “To tell you in person who was chosen. After all, you suggested the idea.”
I leaned forward and furrowed my brows. “Well, who is it? Do I know her?”
His eyes turned back to me and I could see the sorrow in them. “It’s your cousin, Souhir.”
Souhir.
Her name echoed in my head, and a thousand thoughts and emotions swirled in my mind. I felt like I was going to be sick.
How could they choose her? This must be a mistake. It couldn’t be true.
Dear Souhir. My little cousin. Just only twenty years old.
I shook my head as if that would make the news any less real. “No,” I whispered. “This can’t be happening.”
Uncle Mehdi reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, child. But it is.”
“B-but,” I stammered. “How is that possible?”
“You received the maximum score on the writing tests. But Idir and a few of the other women surpassed you on some of the other examinations. It was a toss-up between them, with Souhir winning because she impressed the ambassador.”
My throat constricted. “Have you told her yet?”
