s. He arrived at Colonel Edrees's front door just as the first hints of dawn painted the sky pale blue. Inside, Alia's family was gathered around th

up from her

astered to his forehead, uniform jacket still u

steady but warm, "I-uh-wanted

ia's mother paused mid-ladle, and Adam sat straighte

mission to court your daughter. I realize none of us needs an invitation-Alia and I have spent plenty of time to

ce fo

at her father, whose face softened f

oven that. Alia's been through hell and back-and you stood by her. Perm

d. "Thank you, sir.

a grin that made her cheeks tingle with warmth. Aisha's spoon clattered

ent, something inside her shifted: the invisible barrier

-

ghtened the notes on her desk, retrieved the cover letter from the hospital, and tucked it into h

-

gnized her instantly. His eyes lifted from

es, again

nvelope on his desk, every beat of her heart echoing. "After that, I'll take

forward it to the Dean immediately

nerves warring beneath her

f the envelope. "Go

-

climbed into the taxi that would take her back to the campus apartment complex. Across the way,

with a cheer. "You look of

ed over notes and diagrams. "Mostly," she said, exhaling. "Three professors are g

wned. "Tha

er that than nothing

of course. But no one works alone." She gestured to t

h other on mechanisms of drug release, clinical cases, dosing calculations. Laughter bubbled up when Al

-

e buzzed with an ema

Makeup Exam

o

r

rmaceutics, Biostatist

gnosy: f

d l

rsity

nding. She sank onto the couch, wrapp

e murmured. "I have

draping an arm around her. "A

-

Before she could answer, Jamal'

to enter?"

ds, damp from the evening mist. His uniform jacket was neatly folde

nk for pharmacokinetics, blue for pharmaceutics, yellow for dr

d. "You did

le. "But I wanted to. I'm not going anywhere." His voi

nk onto the couch; he sat beside her, careful to give her space y

-fire questions; she answered, stumbling sometimes, but always encouraged by his quiet praise

t, Alia's eyelids drooped. She yaw

, voice thick with exhaustion and... something els

gh. "Then don't. You're

hair had fallen forward; he tucking a lock behind

omething," he

yth

alone anymore. Let me help-

ssion granted, honor upheld. She thought of her friends, of the clinic staff, of Adam's unwa

ed, leaning in to brush

ch, resting his forehead agai

through tears. "I l

textbooks closed and flashcards set aside, Alia realized she was no longer alone on her journey-not in her

slept not in fear, but in peace-her he