Wafa

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Good thing there wasn’t traffic, but I should’ve paid attention to the signs.

We turned onto an isolated road toward the Israeli coast. I wanted us to be alone. Wafa had mesmerised me since I’d met her. She was a Palestinian nurse, raised in Birzeit, me a volunteer doctor from Dublin. Our shy exchanges became daily lunches. Today was our first date.

The road ended at an Israeli army camp. Wire. Rifles. Suspicious stares. I backed away quickly. Wafa appeared fearful, then angry, finally amused.

She proposed that night.