M. Gessen

Neither could Ms.

Hosseini.

On cross-examination, she had these kinds of exchanges with Alan.

Question.

Answer.

Correct.

And that made sense to you?

At the time, yes.

Um, yes.

The two of you living in Boston, is that closer in terms of geography or the United States and Zimbabwe?

Definitely in Boston is closer than Boston and Zimbabwe.

Nonetheless, your goal was not to separate Priscilla from the children, was it?

When she was done with him, Ilham Hosseini hadn't just destroyed Alan's defense.

She had thoroughly humiliated him.

This made me happy.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I think I can honestly say that I had never before enjoyed seeing someone humiliated in public.

If a movie or a play contains even a hint of ridicule, if the director is mean to their characters, I find it unbearable to watch.

And here I was, rejoicing in the ritual shaming of my cousin, a person I can still see as a naked pudgy baby with a full head of curls.

And the person I identified most with at the trial was the prosecutor.