The first thing Zahra noticed was the sunlight. It spilled through the blinds in soft, golden streaks, cutting across the crisp white of the hospital room and landing on the curve of her face. Her body felt heavy, sluggish, and achingly unfamiliar.
Every blink of her eyes required effort, as if she were trying to coax herself out of a deep fog she hadn’t realized had taken hold.
A soft, almost hesitant voice reached her, carrying a mixture of relief and restrained worry.
“Zahra…”
Her eyelids flickered open. The first thing she saw was Aesir, sitting slightly hunched beside her bed, his messy hair sticking out in all directions. His eyes were red, the skin around them puffy, as though he hadn’t slept in days and he had, she realized, likely stayed awake watching over her.
She blinked,
