She surreptitiously unfolded the tiny paper and read the word aloud:
Bliss.
Popped out of her mouth like a blister
Gooey syrupy candy oozing out the sides of her mouth
Bliss,
Said in that naive, all-believing way that only a teenager could
But she was old enough to know better
Experienced enough to know that
Bliss
Was not as practical as its pronunciation
Wise enough to know
That life was less
‘Bliss’
And more
‘Bisssssss…… 3alaiki‘*
.
*Biss is a Sudanese onomatopoeic word that indicates extreme displeasure in someone or something. 3alaiki translates to “at you”.
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