It had been four days since Nadeen sought refuge in Majid's house. The sprawling mansion had felt like a prison at first, despite its luxury and comfort. She had told him little, only that her mother-in-law had sent her away, and she left out the uglier details because she couldn't bring herself to lie. Majid had tried to get her to talk, gently asking her what happened, but she always responded with silence or a brief shake of her head. Her heart ached too much to go deeper.
The house was mostly quiet during the day, as Majid didn't stay home much, going out early and coming back late. She appreciated the solitude, though at times, it left her lost in her thoughts—thoughts she desperately wanted to escape.
One early morning, after finishing her Subhi prayer, Nadeen wandered downstairs i
