January arrived with a quiet stillness.
That morning, Yugh's house felt unusually empty. His parents had left before dawn for a five-day pilgrimage, their absence leaving behind a silence that echoed through the halls. Yusuf, too, had departed early for his work, the sound of the front door closing marking the start of a strangely isolated day.
Only Yugh and Zahra remained. 🙌
They sat across from each other at the dining table, the space between them larger than usual. Sunlight filtered through the windows, illuminating untouched plates and half-finished cups of tea. Zahra barely looked at her food.
Suddenly, she stiffened. 🤢
Her hand flew to her mouth as her face drained of color. Without a word, she pushed back her chair and rushed toward the washroom.
"Zahra!" Yugh called, standing up instantly.
He followed her down the hallway, but before he could reach her, the door slammed shut,and locked.
From the other side, he heard it.
The unmistakable sound of nausea, followed by vomiting. 😰
Yugh's heart tightened. "Zahra, open the door," he said, concern rising in his voice. "Are you okay?"
There was no answer, only the sound of running water.
After a few minutes, the door finally opened. Zahra stepped out slowly, her face pale, her lips pressed together. She refused to meet his eyes. 😖
"What happened?" Yugh asked gently, placing a hand on her arm.
She pulled away. "Nothing," she said quickly. "I just felt sick. The food didn't sit well."
"You were fine a moment ago," he said, studying her face. 🙄
She looked past him, avoiding his gaze. "It's nothing serious," she repeated, already walking toward the bedroom. "Please don't make a big deal out of it."
Yugh stood there for a moment, uneasy, then followed her. Concern overruled his doubt. ,🚶
Later, he returned with medicine for nausea and vomiting, placing it carefully on the bedside table. "Take these," he said softly. "If it continues, we should see a doctor."
She nodded without looking at him. 🙍🏻
Only after Yugh left the room did Zahra move.
She stared at the tablets for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, quietly, she picked them up, walked to the window, and opened it just enough.
One by one, she threw the pills outside. 💊
They disappeared into the garden below ;unseen, forgotten.
Zahra closed the window and leaned against it, her heart pounding. Whatever truth lay within her, she was not ready to face it. 😣
And Yugh, standing unaware on the other side of the house, remained blind to the meaning of that locked door, and the silence that followed. 🤐