The long hours bleed into night, and still Ava and I remain huddled in the shadowed courtyard. We've moved only enough to settle against the high brick wall, leaning into one another for what little comfort two shattered souls can provide. My eyes are gritty and swollen from the seemingly endless flow of tears. Ava has retreated into a dead-eyed silence that's nearly as harrowing as her earlier keening wails of anguish.
At some point, exhaustion overwhelms my battered psyche and I feel myself beginning to slip into a hazy, dreaming state...
I'm no longer in the compound's grim confines. Instead, I'm surrounded by vibrant meadows that roll out in endless waves of wildflowers beneath a brilliant azure sky. The sun is warm on my face, the gentle breeze caressing my skin like a lover's touch
