C73 Guarded Hearts and Broken Roads

Morning in the mountains arrived quietly.

Sunlight slipped through the wooden windows of Aisha’s room, lighting the soft cream walls and the little table full of flowers the villagers had brought.

Aisha woke slowly.

For a moment she forgot everything.

Then she tried to sit up.

And immediately—

“Don’t.”

Arjun’s voice came from the chair beside her bed.

She blinked