Love in Translation

at cross-legged on her couch, a stack of printed reports spread before her, illuminated by the soft glow of a desk lamp. Her la

oing Sam's lunchtime advice. It sounded so simple when h

ting her train of thought.

n you're free. I need

troduction to a distant cousin who was, apparently, perfect marriage material. Layla had dodged tha

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aos. He leaned against the counter of his small, clutter

aid, eyeing the half-empty ta

oming to dinner Sun

eplied, though his to

s time, Samuel. It's not go

iled despite himself. "Not

love life-or lack thereof-were as predictable as Layla's tendency to over

did the cultural consultan

_____________

ed, a brief respite from her ta

You free to help me

came almos

ays. Falafel

ust a bit. She didn't know how he always managed to

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air thick with the scent of fried chickpeas and garlic. S

he said, gesturing

out her notepad. "Okay,

am's knack for logistics complemented Layla's storytelling instincts,

aid, popping a fal

eplied, though her smil

_____________

again. This time, it wasn't work or family, but a num

a spe

he client meeting. I hope I'm n

had been one of the more sce

eplied, trying to sound

ou framed cultural understanding as a bridge-it's exactly what our team

his was exactly the kind of oppo

d finally, a smile spr

ence. Maybe, just maybe, she was building