The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional muffled voices from the hallway outside. Nadeen lay on the bed, staring blankly at her phone that had been switched off since the previous night. Her fingers hovered over the power button, hesitant. Would turning it back on force her to face the reality she was trying to escape? She didn't want to deal with messages, calls, or the outside world. Not now. Not with everything weighing on her heart.
Hanif lay beside her, making soft baby noises, unaware of the turmoil swirling inside his mother. Nadeen glanced at him, trying to focus on his innocence, his tiny fingers reaching out for something. But no matter how hard she tried, the ache in her chest wouldn't fade. The weight of everything was too much to car
