Haya had been heading downstairs after a long day when something felt off. The house was unusually quiet, too quiet for this time of evening. Normally, she would find Huma Khala relaxing in her favorite armchair, watching a show or reading a book. But tonight, the silence weighed heavily on her, like a bad omen. Haya hesitated at the top of the staircase, her fingers clutching the banister as a gnawing unease started to build in her chest.
Taking a deep breath, she made her way toward Huma’s room. The door was slightly ajar, and Haya pushed it open gently, expecting to see her sitting up in bed or perhaps lying down to rest. But what she found made her heart stop.
Huma Khala was hunched over in her bed, clutching her chest with one hand while the other weakly gripped the sheets. Her face
