Sumaya just stared at her mother. A mixture of fear, confusion, and disbelief swirled within her, like a storm that threatened to pull her under. "What… what are you saying?
She choked out, her voice unsteady as her mind raced to keep up with the tidal wave of emotions. Her hands trembled at her sides, fingers curling into fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, the tension biting into her skin. "Praying for what? Me? Why? Why would they be praying for me?" Her words were more a desperate plea than a question.
Avanaya's expression softened, yet her unwavering gaze bore into Sumaya. There was a quiet sadness in her eyes now, a burden she had carried for far too long and had finally chosen to unburden. Her lips parted slightly, as though forming the words itself weighed on her soul.
