As Zina awoke, she found herself engulfed in a cold sweat, her heart racing within her chest. The previous night's events lingered vividly in her mind; the revelation of her mother's betrayal had left her reeling. The name "Mariam" echoed through her thoughts, a name that didn't quite belong to her mother, adding to the layers of confusion that clouded her memory. The weight of uncertainty bore down on her, leaving her adrift in a sea of doubt and fear.
In her state of emotional turmoil, questions swirled in her mind like a relentless whirlwind. Why had her uncle Hakim emerged, and what ulterior motive drove his actions? Who was the mysterious woman Smail had been conversing with, adding yet another layer of opaqueness to her already vulnerable reality? The uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her feeling increasingly exposed and vulnerable.