Basking in the sunlight like lizards
When Dari is in danger of dying in the forbidden jungle, Zahrah uses her magical power to rescue him. People are scared of entering the jungle because it is dangerous, and it symbolizes death. However, Zahrah is bold and courageous enough to go deeper and rescue Dari. After the rescue is completed successfully, Dari and Zahrah bask in the sun like lizards. The narrator writes, “Dari and I sat close together, basking in the sunlight like lizards.” The simile shows the strong bond between Zahrah and Dari because they are always there for each other, especially during times of need. Lizards usually bask together, and they are always watchful of each other.
Hurting
The narrator says, "Though I knew I shouldn't have cared, the words still hurt like pinches. And pinches can be very painful when done in the same place many times in a row." The narrator recalls what people say about her unique creation with a negative tone and mood. According to society, a child born with dada locks is a witch and a bad omen to the community. When she goes to school, classmates utter the same abusive words about her intertwined hair. Despite choosing to remain silent on these abusive words, the narrator compares them to a painful pinch on the same spot regularly.
The simile of a feather
The narrator's self-discovery is a painful endeavor because unique things are happening to her body and skin. The narrator's hair has living veins, and its growth affects her skin and other body parts. While in her room, the narrator feels strange and starts scratching her skin like a scab when revealing new skin. The narrator says, "I scratched my arms and legs but still felt irritated. Then, I felt light and breezy, like a feather swept high into the air by the wind." The simile shows a strange feeling the narrator experiences whenever she experiences change and a strange transformation in her body.
