*
It was nearly thirty minutes to dawn when Fareed was woken up by Zaid, who was holding an oil lamp before him.
"It's time," he whispered, turning towards the door. "Come with me."
Groggy and disoriented, Fareed turned to see Noor sleeping soundly beside him, half of her face sunken into the mattress with her lips slightly parted.
Even now, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He tore his eyes from her and stepped off the bed, his limbs feeling heavier than usual. Zaid waited for him at the door, and only after he had stepped out of the room did he continue. The house was deathly silent, except for the faint sound of an unseen cricket somewhere in the kitchen.
Both men were silent as they walked on, Zaid leading the way with the oil lamp in front of him. Far
