Epilogue

40. The Nightmare

Dunes by the seaside
Asherah (8) is running in the dunes. She seems to float in the landscape. Forms are fuzzy in the bright yellow sunlight.

On the shore
Asherah is now on the beach. Her hand rests in the hand of Nahid (21). Both are facing the sea, wearing floral dresses and straw hats. The reflection of light on the water glitters around them in bluish white sparkles.

Standing on the other side of Nahid, the gray silhouette of a man slowly appears. Nahid has her hand in his.

In the water
Asherah is swimming, diving and re-emerging on the surface of the water like a dolphin. Around her, everything is blue. Her face radiates boundless happiness.

She turns her face towards the shore and waves her hand.

On the shore
Nahid is sitting on the beach, alone. She smiles in the direction of Asherah and waves back to her.

Behind her, at the top of a dune overlooking the beach, the grandmother and the uncle are looking severely at Nahid.

The sound of someone breathing faintly at first, becomes increasingly louder.

Asherah sees her grandmother and her uncle and wants to a wave at them when the sky and the water around her darken.

Armed men appear on the crest of the dunes all around.

Not aware of them, Nahid smiles at Asherah, waving her arm.

The face of Asherah takes an alarmed expression. She tries to warn Nahid of the danger when a hand grabs her head and pushes her into the water. In the middle of the air bubbles that surround her, Asherah recognizes the face of Rami who smiles at her, but who continues to keep her head under water. The bubbles fill the screen.

Everything goes black as a massive metallic door closes with a deafening sound.