We All Ran into the Sunlight (28 page)

8th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: Baseemapé[email protected]
Subject: Thanks

Hi Ma

The money has arrived in my account. I don’t know what else to say.

Sylvie

8th March 2007
To: Baseemapé[email protected]
From: sylviepé[email protected]
Subject: Re: Thanks

Dear Sylvie,

Are you ok?

Ma

8th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: some money has arrived

Dear Daniel

You sent a cheque to Baseema, which she has now sent to me. I just wanted to say… well, thank you for thinking of us.

xSylvie

9th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: hello!

Hi Daniel

It was a bit of a shock to get this news from you. I don’t think we ever expected to hear from you again. Let alone receive any money. How are you doing? This is what I forgot to actually ask you when I emailed you yesterday. Are you ok? That’s all I really wanted to say. We never found out what happened to you. As with before, one minute you were there, and the next you were gone. But I guess you went back to Paris?

xSylvie

12th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: hello!

Hi Daniel

It’s nice now in the village. You get the sense that spring is in the air. There’s so much going on here, and we’re all terribly busy with one thing or another. But it would be great to hear from you if you’re not too busy and you get a chance to reply. Your note said that things were complicated…

Hope all’s going well with you. It would be really great to just hear a few words from you.

13th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: hello!

Daniel? Can’t you even reply to me? S

29th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: important

Dear Daniel

There is something that I feel you should know. Please be in touch with me. It’s important.

xSylvie

29th March 2007
From: sylviepé[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: important

Dear Daniel

I can’t do this on email. Please be in contact with a number so that I can ring you.

xSylvie

17th April 2007
From: Baseemapé[email protected]
To: sylviepé[email protected]
Subject: Daniel

Dear Sylvie

Just to let you know that I haven’t heard again from Daniel since he was supposed to have
returned
from his trip abroad. I never thought that things would change since his return to the village in the summer but then one day I found myself thinking that it might be nice to get together with him for Christmas or something. How foolish to be so wanting… much better, I know, to learn to be self-sufficient, which you must do with your child… I always hoped that when he knew the truth about his birth he would want to see me. But I suspect he feels it’s too late for reconciliation.

Did you spend any of the money yet? Don’t let your dad squander all of it. Make sure that you hold enough back for yourself, Sylvie. And do something with it that makes you feel happy.

I think of you and know what it is you are
going
through and I know how calm it can make you feel to be carrying a child. Keep me posted.

Ma xxx