Meanwhile, back at Mariam's place, Dorothy sat stiffly on the couch, clutching a glass of water with both hands. Her fingers fidgeted against the glass, betraying her unease. She wanted nothing more than to leave this place, yet her body remained rooted, weighed down by everything unsaid.
"I could not thank you enough back then," Mariam said softly, her tone polite but layered with emotion. "But now that I have finally seen you in person, I feel I must show my gratitude properly."
Dorothy lifted her eyes, unsure how to respond.
Despite the grief still lodged deep in Mariam's heart, there was no bitterness in her voice. How could there be? Dorothy had been the only one who kept her informed about Kira. The only thread of truth she had been able to cling to when everything else felt uncertain.
Mariam folded her hands in her lap, her gaze distant for a moment. "If it were not for you," she added quietly, "I would have been completely in the dark."
