Yesterday passed without incident. No more gate bells chiming, no more sudden phone calls, and no more strange messages. Yet, for Nayla, the lingering exhaustion remained. An emotional drain that left her shrouded in confusion.
Nayla had managed to sleep a little longer, but she woke this morning with a heavy head and a body that felt far from recovered. Carina was still staying over, whether to help prepare for a styling project or simply to act as a confidante.
“You look exhausted,” Carina remarked.
“I am, even though I haven’t done a single thing.”
Carina pressed the back of her hand against Nayla’s forehead and then her neck. “You have a fever. Do we need to go to the hospital?”
Nayla shook her head slowly. “No. I just need rest.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I’ll just take some m
