Chapter 28

The whispers from the crowd at the entrance of Al-Dhaq Al-Rafie swirled around Layla like a freezing wind. Every sideways glance at her scarred skin felt like a physical blow, stripping away the small spark of hope she had managed to kindle since leaving the hospital. She bowed her head, the weight of their judgment pressing down on her shoulders until she felt small and broken. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the pavement as she bit her lip to keep from sobbing aloud. Farah Saleh stepped...