g this kind of pain。
Baba came right out and asked。 Did you steal that money？ Did you steal Amir s watch； Hassan？
Hassan s reply was a single word； delivered in a thin； raspy voice： Yes。
I flinched； like I d been slapped。 My heart sank and I almost blurted out the truth。 Then I understood： This was Hassan s final sacrifice for me。 If he d said no； Baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied。 And if Baba believed him； then I d be the accused； I would have to explain and I would be revealed for what I really was。 Baba would never； ever forgive me。 And that led to another understanding： Hassan knew He knew I d seen everything in that alley； that I d stood there and done nothing。 He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again； maybe for the last time。 I loved him in that moment； loved him more than I d ever loved anyone； and I wanted to tell them all that I was the snake in the grass； the monster in the lake。 I wasn t worthy of this sacrifice； I was a liar； a cheat； and a thief。 And I would have told； except that a part of me was glad。 Glad that this would all be over with soon。 Baba would dismiss them； there would be some pain； but life would move on。 I wanted that； to move on； to forget； to start with a clean slate。 I wanted to be able to breathe again。
Except Baba stunned me by saying； I forgive you。
Forgive？ But theft was the one unforgivable sin； the mon denominator of all sins。 When you kill a man； you steal a life。 You steal his wife s right to a husband； rob his children of a father。 When you tell a lie； you steal someone s right to the truth。 When you cheat； you steal the right to fairness。 There is no act more wretched than stealing。 Hadn t Baba sat me on his lap and said those words to me？ Then how could he just forgive Hassan？ And if Baba could forgive that； then why couldn t he forgive me for not being the son he d always wanted？ Why…… We are leaving； Agha sahib； Ali said。
What？ Baba said； the color draining from his face。
We can t live here anymore； Ali said。
But I forgive him； Ali； didn t you hear？ said Baba。
Life here is impossible for us now； Agha sahib。 We re leaving。 Ali drew Hassan to him； curled his arm around his son s shoulder。 It was a protective gesture and I knew whom Ali was protecting him from。 Ali glanced my way and in his cold； unforgiving look； I saw that Hassan had told him。 He had told him everything； about what Assef and his friends had done to him； about the kite； about me。 Strangely； I was glad that someone knew me for who I really was； I was tired of pretending。
I don t care about the money or the watch； Baba said； his arms open； palms up。 I don t understand why you re doing this。。。 what do you mean impossible ？
I m sorry； Agha sahib； but our bags are already packed。 We have made our decision。
Baba stood up； a sheen of grief across his face。 Ali； haven t I provided well for you？ Haven t I been good to you and Hassan？ You re the brother I never had； Ali； you know that。 Please don t do this。
Don t make this even more difficult than it already is； Agha sahib； Ali said。 His mouth twitched and； for a moment； I thought I saw a grimace。 That was when I understood the depth of the pain I had caused； the blackness of the grief I had brought onto everyone； that not even Ali s paralyzed face could mask his sorrow。 I forced myself to look at Hassan； but his head was downcast； his shoulders slumped； his finger twirling a loose string on the hem of his shirt。
Baba was pleading now。 At least tell me why。 I need to know！
Ali didn t tell Baba； just as he didn t protest