ah, isn’t it funny that after 9 years I still did not delete your number. I know that we will never talk again because why should we, after becoming strangers again, after a breach of trust that showed that maybe we have always been strangers in the first place. and still I keep it, so from time to time, when I feel melancholic and go through my whatsapp contact list, I see your name. I see your name but not your picture and probably you have changed your number a long time ago but looking at your name gives me some comfort. also, isn’t it crazy how marjane satrapi suddendly “was” because of sorrow. she “is” through war and revolution and oppression and exclusion and escape and loss and exile and death and more goodbyes than one can count but nothing can equalize 31 years of love. maybe this is not crazy after all. maybe love never stops, maybe the tense just changes. rest in piece marji, go back to your loved one and let iran raise to freedom through your name.
