"Oh my goodness, Sumaya… you're finally awake," Avanya whispered through broken sobs.
Sumaya blinked, her vision swimming before it settled on Avanya's face. The woman looked hollowed out by exhaustion, dark circles bruised her eyes, her skin pale from sleepless nights. She looked like someone who had carried the weight of the world without pause.
"W… water…" Sumaya rasped. Her throat burned, each word dragging like sandpaper.
Avanya startled, bolting upright. The small bedside table against the wall was cluttered with a half-empty jug and a glass. She nearly knocked the chair over in her hurry, fumbling to lift the jug and pour water into the cup, the stream splashing unevenly against the rim. She rushed back, her hands trembling as she tried to place the cup in Sumaya's hands.
Sumaya's weak fingers slipped, unable to steady it.
