Page 59 of Exit Party

She had his attention now. His eyes widened involuntarily. “Ending your marriage was the best thing you ever did?”

“Yes.”

“Jesus, Marlowe. That’s fucking dark.”

“No, it was dark before I ended it.”

But Samir was staring at the bed. “Dad?”

Kareem was waking again. One of those skeletal hands was shifting back and forth, as if fumbling for something lost in the blankets.

“Hello, Kareem,” the nurse said, very loudly. “Your children are here.”

Their father’s eyes opened. He looked at Marlowe, and then Samir. His gaze was accusatory, like he’d just been rudely jolted from an interesting dream. Then he seemed to recover himself, and blinked.

“Hello,” he said. His voice was weaker than it had been.

“Dad,” Samir said. “Dad, can you hear me?”

“Let me just adjust those pillows for you,” the nurse said, and fussed about by their father’s head.

“There were days of interrogation, after the accident,” Kareem murmured. His eyes were focused behind Marlowe now. She turned, but there was no one behind her, only the blank wall of his bedroom.

“What?” Samir asked. “What accident?”

“Interrogation and testing,” Kareem said. “I want you to know, Ibari’s the one who made this all possible.”

“Would we like to try some chamomile tea this evening, Kareem?” the nurse asked.

Marlowe saw that Samir had gone very still. “Ibari,” he said carefully, “as in your friend Ibari Waker?”

“I’m going to just change your IV,” the nurse said. “You’re going to feel a little pull as I take this tape off.”

“I’ve been so lucky,” Kareem said. “I was so lucky to come here.”

“I’m sorry,” the nurse said, “but there’s going to be a little pinch. If you’d take a deep breath for me, I’m just going to—”

“I’ve loved being your father,” Kareem said. He smiled at them. His eyelids were heavy. “This is such a hard place. This State. But I’ve loved being here with you.”

“Dad,” Samir said, very quietly.

“I’ll get tea sent in,” the nurse said, and retreated. Marlowe was aware now of passing time, twilight subsiding into darkness through the open window. The slightest breeze moved through the room. Marlowe and Samir glanced at one another, and waited.

“Dad,” Samir said, “what did Ibari make possible? What did you mean by that?”

Kareem was lying with his eyes closed, seemingly sleeping. They sat with him for a while, watching his face, and then at last he opened his eyes again, and smiled at them.

“I learned something important once,” he said. His voice was a little stronger now.

Samir leaned forward. “What’s that, Dad? What did you learn?”

“Countries don’t last forever,” Kareem said.

“I like that idea,” Marlowe said.

“Careful,” Samir murmured. “We don’t know who’s listening.” She stared flatly at him until he looked away. When they looked back at their father, he’d fallen asleep again, and he didn’t stir when they touched his hand. Marlowe studied her father’s face. His eyes were moving again behind closed eyelids. What was it like to be Kareem at this moment? Sometimes when Marlowe was falling asleep, there was an in-between state wherein she was conscious but could not move. She imagined her father wandering through a dark forest, hearing voices to which he couldn’t respond.

“Let’s go out to the hallway,” Samir said. “We could use a break.”