chapter one- one more Sunrise
A calm room rested under the soft touch of morning light. Three beds, neatly placed, their white bedsheets glowing faintly as the sun slipped through the thin curtains. Two children slept soundly. One—ten years old—curled on his side, his long lashes resting on tired cheeks. The other—a tiny two-year-old—lay in the middle of a universe made of blankets and innocence. Suddenly, a strand of long black hair fell forward, covering part of the baby’s face. A woman gently swept it aside and pressed a quiet kiss on his forehead. Then she lifted her eyes toward the window, where fresh sunlight poured in like a blessing. She reached for her phone, checked the time, and took a deep breath— the kind only a mother takes before beginning another day of struggle and hope. Tying her thick hair into a knot, she gathered her clothes and hurried toward the bathroom. The door closed softly. Long sounds of running water filled the room, mixed with faint chirping from birds outside— lif...