As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

When Salama awakens the next morning, she and Kenan are still gleeful. They slept in her old home, and plan to have a small wedding ceremony later that day at the hospital, then a big wedding in Germany. Kenan gave her his mother’s ring, which is too big, so she strings it on her necklace chain instead. He walks Salama home, then hurries to check on his siblings.

Salama can barely hide her glee when she shows Layla the ring. Layla is pleased, but is having painful pregnancy symptoms. She apologizes for being unable to attend the hospital wedding, but looks forward to the next one in Germany. She insists Salama become a wife today, and Salama agrees.

Kenan and his siblings arrive at the hospital. Yusuf is wary of Salama, but Lama is excited and thanks her for saving her life. The couple asks Dr. Ziad to officiate the spontaneous ceremony. With teary eyes, he accepts, since he views Salama as another daughter. The couple use the standard Muslim vows to solidify their union, with patients cheering. After the wedding, Kenan stammers that he should have given Salama a dowry, or at least a wedding dress. She promises she wants a marriage with him, not a wedding.

In the medicine stockroom, Khawf appears. Now that Salama is married, he questions what she would do if Kenan or his siblings were to get arrested: Would she stay in Syria or leave with Layla? Salama doesn’t want to choose between her husband and sister-in-law, but says she’s already leaving Hamza. Khawf hopes she won’t be buried in Syria.

Am approaches Salama during her shift and asks if her new groom knows about her broken moral compass. She asks if he’s threatening her, but he simply wants to scare her after he almost ruined his life. She still feels remorseful over Samar, admitting what she did was wrong but insisting she still has a conscience. Am says Samar is fine but has a scar to remember Salama’s “conscience.”

At the end of Salama’s shift, Kenan and his siblings arrive. They’re moving in with Salama and Layla for their last five days before leaving. They walk home as a family, talking happily about their future. When they arrive, Salama hurries to talk to Layla in the back bedroom. Kenan comes in, but she yells at him to stop since Layla doesn’t have her hijab on. He swears no one is present. Salama is confused; she’s talking to Layla, but Kenan doesn’t see or hear Layla.

Salama begs Kenan to say Layla is present. With sadness, he explains no one is in the room. Salama looks to Layla, who reveals she’s real in her heart. Layla reminds her about a past shooting. Salama has a flashback to this day, when Layla, who was two months pregnant, died by a sniper. She refused this reality and created her own—a hallucination of Layla. Now that Salama is happy with Kenan and planning to leave Syria, Layla promises nothing was her fault. She feels it’s time to say goodbye, trusting Salama can move forward without her. Salama is left mourning her friend, and Kenan soothes her.

Lama walks into the room, asking for Layla. Kenan says she is in heaven while Salama dries her tears. Though Lama is confused, Yusuf looks at Salama and understands her struggle.

After dinner and the children are asleep, Salama and Kenan talk about Layla. Salama remembers her last day with her, realizing her mind created a fantasy of Layla for the past five months. In shock, she wonders why she’s leaving; she doesn’t have a promise to keep anymore. Kenan reminds her that they’re leaving for the sake of safety and her mental health. Later that night, Khawf comes to Salama, laughing over her thinking Layla was real. Salama believes Khawf is real, and he says since fear is already high in Syria, he won’t remain with her once she leaves. She asks where he will go, and he replies “Everywhere.”