The next morning, the nightmare was still fresh in Shihab’s mind, a dark stain on his thoughts. He found Ayham making breakfast , humming quietly to himself. The casual normalcy of it, after the horror Shihab had envisioned, was too much to bear.
“Ayham,” Shihab began, his voice more strained than he intended. “I’ve been thinking. You should go to Al Noor Island.”
Ayham paused his humming but didn’t look up. “What? Why?”
“To be with the family. With Mom and the others. They’re safe there. You should be safe there, too.”
Now Ayham looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion. “But I am safe. I’m here with you.”
“It’s not safe here!” Shihab’s voice rose, edged with the fear from his dream. “It’s dangerous every single day. You’re too young for this.”
A defiant look flashed in Ayham’s eyes
