[71] a

Fathia had experienced loss before. Left without a word of farewell or goodbye. At the very least, she wished someone had warned her about the lurking dangers. Some advice that she would endlessly replay in her mind, so she could endure the challenges of the life she now led. She couldn't deny that these feelings had resurfaced over the past few days.

She was afraid of being abandoned again, by whoever it might be. The matter of leaving, especially through death, was a fate that had been written by a higher power. Fathia couldn't avoid it, evade it, or even ask her God to delay what is death.

Almost every night, she prayed for the heaviness in her heart to diminish, just a bit. For some reason, she felt as if she might experience death again. Fathia couldn't bear the thought of going through that again. The life she was living now was enough for her.

Fathia turned as she felt a gentle pat on her shoulder. Jess was beside her, offering a small reassuring smile. "