The golden hue of the setting sun filtered through the curtains in Leylla’s room, painting her walls in soft amber. She stood before the mirror, brushing her hair and adjusting the simple white sundress she had chosen for her evening tour of Mombasa town. After everything that had happened, she needed fresh air, a breath of freedom, something to remind her that there was more to life than battles and betrayals.
Just as she reached for her purse, there was a soft knock on her door.
Before she could answer, the knob turned, and Dr. Aldrich stepped in.
Leylla’s breath caught slightly, her hand frozen in mid-air. He looked different this evening—less formal, more human. His eyes held exhaustion, but beneath it, something softer… something broken.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” he said qu
