بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

it was a warm night
we drove together to the masjid
i checked the basement before salah
there seemed to be a party when i poked my head in
yikes, i left right quick pitter pattering back up three flights of stairs
past the corkboard about the rights of our prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
past the double doors which request all to clean their hands and wear a mask before entry (i did neither though i had a mask around my neck, couldn’t breathe enough)
into the big window room with the printer and sadaqah safe
there i waited for a lecture that did not seem to be arriving
a pair of little girls asked each other who i was
another child asked for napkins and blew her nose with them
then my companion called my phone to say let’s leave
we left, me and my grandfather, and spoke over the wind tumbling through the car window
i asked to keep the typewriter
it was a warm night
hi neighbor said a neighbor as we went in
hello i responded, but he didn’t seem to see me
i left for my walk while he spoke to my grandfather
it was still the waqt of maghrib
i left, feeling guilty
my body was crying to be moved, so i ran and ran long and loping
i came back too soon because i remembered the instructions of our messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم
i repented and went into the house upon the name of God
i knocked and spoke the salutation, peace be upon you
up the stairs i went, up those carpeted blocks, up
i texted and waiting and sought names in my email which had not arrived
discouraged, i...