Exes
(Aaron knocks on Samira and Grace’s door. Samira is at her desk with a textbook open, typing on her computer)
SAMIRA (looks up): Come in.
AARON: Hi.
SAMIRA (looks back down): Hi.
AARON: Is Grace here?
SAMIRA: No.
AARON: Do you know when she’s going to be back?
SAMIRA: No.
AARON: Ok.
(Long silence)
SAMIRA: Yes?
AARON: I saw you’re on the interracial dating panel.
SAMIRA: Yes?
AARON: Are you going to talk about us.
SAMIRA: Maybe.
AARON: I mean, I just want to know so I can be prepared.
SAMIRA: I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m going to say. It’s not like I’m planning anything specific.
AARON: Ok.
(Long silence)
AARON: Are we ever going to be friends again?
SAMIRA: You get that you broke my heart right? Like that’s a thing that happened.
AARON: I didn’t think.
SAMIRA (interrupting): You might not have been serious about wanting to be with me long-term, but I was serious about wanting to be with you.
AARON: No, I mean I was serious, I just…
SAMIRA : Got scared, yeah I know.
AARON: Hey, you said you were scared and overwhelmed too.
SAMIRA: Yes, because it was a new feeling for me. I’ve never felt like that for anyone else. So certain you know.
AARON: I just thought…
SAMIRA: Why didn’t you just ask.
AARON: I don’t know.
SAMIRA: You’re the best guy I know. You’re funny and thoughtful and sweet. And smart and talented. It was a big deal for me to fall for someone who’s not brown.
AARON: I’m Lebanese, of course I’m brown.
SAMIRA: Yeah, but you’re a fair-skinned, green-eyed Lebanese guy. You blend.
AARON: Uh, so do you.
SAMIRA: I know I know. Sorry, that came out all wrong. (pause) I guess I mean, I’m so pale already that I worry about teaching my future children about what it means to be a person of color in this country if they’re paler than I am. Or about my culture when I’m already so removed from it. How do I pass it down? So I just assumed that when I finally fell in love it would be with someone else. But then I met you and none of it mattered.
AARON: I’m sorry.
SAMIRA: Me too. (Pause) Can you go now? I’ll tell Grace you stopped by.
AARON: Tell her I need the notes from Orgo.
SAMIRA: Yeah.
(Aaron exits)