We set off on a December morning. As we loaded our luggage into the car, two girls living nearby passed by wearing transparent skirts. The very beautiful 'Iman' played with other children, catching my gaze. The other girl was possibly her sister.

The girls stopped to watch us and asked:
– Are you going to France?
'Yes, we are returning to France,' I replied.

They paused, then continued on, returned to give me a rose and a shell, and left. Before we started the car, they reappeared to kiss me with a smile and poise. It was the first time they kissed me, then disappeared silently and gracefully, as if walking on unseen water, like Mohammed.

Alina Reyes
A French writer, born in 1956. Raised in a humble family, the eldest of five siblings. She has many novels including: 'The Butcher', 'A Night with Marilyn Monroe', 'The Passionate Hunt', 'The Pink Notebook', 'Behind the Door', 'Lilith'. 'Mohammed Loves Me' is her first novel translated into Arabic.

Mahmoud Abdelghani
A Moroccan novelist, poet, and translator. Works as a literature professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat. He has authored several novels, translations, and critical books.