Summary

Khaled recalls that three months before the February 2011 revolution in Libya, which at that time none of the characters could have predicted, he went to a concert with Hosam and Claire and they had a great time together. Hosam revealed that his father had had a stroke and that he thought he should return to Libya to see him or else he might never see him again. Claire thought returning to Libya was a bad idea.

Revolutions began to occur across North Africa, which Mustafa became increasingly animated about. In January 2011, the Tunisian dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown after 24 years in power. Mustafa predicted that Egypt would overthrow their dictator next and that Libya would surely follow. In contrast to Mustafa’s excitement and enthusiasm at the prospect of revolution, Hosam was withdrawn and downcast. Khaled felt himself to be stuck...