The morning air felt different. It carried a quiet hush, as though the world itself had stopped for a moment, holding its breath. Outside, the dawn was pale and misted, sunlight breaking through in slow streams. Birds chirped softly, but it was the kind of silence that was filled with meaning.
Inside Alliah’s home, there was a similar stillness. Not heavy, not oppressive, but expectant. It was as though her body, her soul, and her mind all knew this day was a threshold. Today was not merely another step in treatment—it was the next stage, the one that could tip the balance.
Alliah lay awake before sunrise, staring at the pale ceiling. She could hear Jamiro breathing beside her, steady and calm, but her thoughts raced. In those quiet pre‑dawn hours, every fear and hope mingled. She though
