The night was calm, but Maria's mind was restless. Sleep had eluded her ever since her conversation with Ayesha the night before. The revelation about Sister Agnes weighed heavily on her. How could someone so devoted to Christianity suddenly embrace another faith? And more importantly, why did no one question the circumstances of her death?
Maria picked up her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she scrolled through her contacts. Her thumb hovered over Ayesha's name before she finally pressed the call button.
After a few rings, Ayesha answered, her voice groggy with sleep.
Ayesha: "Maria, it's late… is everything okay?"
Maria: "I'm sorry for calling so late, but I couldn't stop thinking about Sister Agnes."
Ayesha sighed, fully waking up now.
Ayesha: "Maria, I thought we talked about this last night."
Maria: "I know, but I have more questions. I can't shake off this feeling that something isn't right."
Ayesha rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.
Ayesha: "Okay… what is it?"
Maria took a deep breath.
Maria: "You remember the declaration letter I showed you? The one where Agnes wrote that she had accepted Islam?"
Ayesha: "Yes, I remember."
Maria: "Well, I keep thinking about how she died. It was so sudden. She went to bed at night, and by morning, she was gone. Was she ill?"
Ayesha hesitated.
Ayesha: "I… I don't know. I don't think she was."
Maria frowned.
Maria: "But shouldn't we have known if she was sick? She lived in the convent with us. We saw her every day."
Ayesha: "That's true, but sometimes people hide their illnesses."
Maria: "Or maybe it wasn't an illness at all."
Ayesha's voice turned cautious.
Ayesha: "Maria… what are you implying?"
Maria bit her lip, unsure of how to say what was on her mind.
Maria: "It just seems strange. She converts to Islam—a huge decision that no one expected—and then, a month later, she dies suddenly in her sleep. Doesn't that sound suspicious to you?"
There was silence on the other end.
Ayesha: "I never thought about it like that."
Maria: "Well, I have. And the more I think about it, the more questions I have."
Ayesha sighed.
Ayesha: "Maria, sometimes people pass away unexpectedly. It doesn't always mean something sinister happened."
Maria: "But what if something did?"
Ayesha hesitated again.
Ayesha: "Are you suggesting… that someone might have done something to her?"
Maria's heart pounded.
Maria: "I don't know. But isn't it strange that no one even investigated? The convent just accepted her death and moved on."
Ayesha thought about this.
Ayesha: "That is strange. Usually, when someone dies, there's at least a medical report, right?"
Maria nodded.
Maria: "Exactly. But no one questioned anything. Not the convent, not the authorities. Nothing."
Ayesha was silent for a moment before she spoke again.
Ayesha: "Maria, do you think someone wanted to silence her?"
The words sent a chill down Maria's spine.
Maria: "I don't know. But if she was perfectly healthy, then why did she die so suddenly?"
Ayesha sighed deeply.
Ayesha: "I really don't know what to say, Maria. This is all… unsettling."
Maria rubbed her forehead, trying to piece everything together.
Maria: "I need to find out more. I need to talk to someone who was close to her in her final days."
Ayesha: "That's a risky move, Maria. What if someone doesn't want you digging into this?"
Maria swallowed.
Maria: "Then that means there's something to hide."
Ayesha exhaled slowly.
Ayesha: "Be careful, Maria. If there's something more to this, you don't know what you might uncover."
Maria nodded, determination settling in her chest.
Maria: "I just want the truth, Ayesha. Sister Agnes deserves that much."
Ayesha sighed again.
Ayesha: "If you're serious about this… then you need to be cautious. If someone really did something to her, they won't like you asking questions."
Maria's grip on her phone tightened.
Maria: "I don't care. I need to know what happened."
Ayesha's voice was soft but firm.
Ayesha: "Then I'll support you. But please, Maria… don't do anything reckless."
Maria closed her eyes, feeling both scared and determined.
Maria: "I promise, I'll be careful."
As the call ended, Maria lay back on her bed, her mind racing.
Sister Agnes's death was a mystery.
And Maria was going to find out the truth.