“The father married off his daughter, who was blind from birth, to a beggar — and what happened afterward surprised many people.”

One afternoon, as she reached out to him, she asked, “Were you always a beggar?” He hesitated. Then he said softly, “I wasn’t always like this.” But he never said anything more. And Zainab didn’t press the matter.

Until one day.

She went to the market alone to buy vegetables. Yusha had given her careful directions, and she memorized every step. But halfway there, someone grabbed her arm violently.

“Blind rat!” a voice spat. It was her sister. Aminah. “Are you still alive? Are you still playing at being a beggar’s wife?” Zainab felt tears welling up, but she stood tall.

“I am happy,” she said.