In the hospital, Asifa regained consciousness. The memory of the church, the confrontation, and Hasan's brutal rejection came flooding back. How could Hasan do this to me? The thought brought fresh, silent tears to her eyes. š«©
The sound of approaching footsteps made her quickly wipe them away. It was the doctor.
"Don't be afraid, dear. You're fine. But you must be very careful during this time. Avoid excessive stress," the doctor said kindly. š§
"Doctor, what exactly happened to me?" she asked.
"We've examined you. We believe it was a sudden drop in your blood pressure. We'll need to monitor your BP and hemoglobin levels regularly, at least twice a month. For now, my advice is: avoid long periods on an empty stomach. If you can't eat much at once, try having small, frequent meals. Also, focus on protein and iron-rich foods. And most importantly, try to stay happy," the doctor advised before leaving the room. š„
Alone again, Asifa placed a hand on her abdomen, thinking of the uncertain futures now facing both her and the child who had yet to see the world. The path ahead was shrouded in fog.
_____________________________________
Elsewhere, Hasan's mother learned the full extent of her son's deception and the monstrous face he had shown to everyone. The shock of it made her physically ill. While she had always stepped in to shield him from trouble before, this time she felt no such impulse. He must face the consequences for what he's done. My pain is for Anisa, the daughter-in-law I never had, who suffered because of my son, and because of me. Her enabling love had finally met its limit. š°
_______________________________________
Back at the Manalo house, Anisa cried until she had no tears left, her sobs soaking the shoulder of Yugh's shirt. He said nothing, simply holding her, his hand gently stroking her hair in a wordless attempt at solace.
In the quiet aftermath of the storm, three separate souls, the betrayed, the enabler, and the liberated, each began their own fragile, painful journey towards a new and uncertain dawn. š