Layla pulled her back from the edge—not with force, but with the quiet gravity of someone who refused to let go.
The word was soft now. Almost tender. A plea wrapped in the shape of a name. thmyl- albnt tqwlh ana khayfh ant btdws jamd bnt...
She was walking toward the edge.
They sank to the gravel together, knees scraping, arms wrapped around each other. Mariam's shoulders shook. Layla held her tighter. Layla pulled her back from the edge—not with
Layla realized, with a cold shiver that started in her spine and spread to her fingertips, that Mariam wasn't walking toward her. two girls chose to stay.
(I'm scared.)
The city hummed on, indifferent and loud. But on that rooftop, under a sky smeared with stars and smog, two girls chose to stay.