3 W I S H E S & 17 D A Y S

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لا تكن مهتما كثيرا، فبعض القلوب لا تشعر
"dont care too much for some hearts cannot feel"

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"How did he look, tell me!" Shaaira demanded, throwing an embroidered pillow at Lailah. Lailah laughed, throwing herself on her silk sheets.

"Beautiful, Shaaira." Lailah gazed at her ceiling. Swirling designs of the moon and sun were etched and engraved into it, painted over with golden colours. "I can't even describe."

"Lailah!" Shaaira jumped next to her, her eyes twinkling in excitement. The bed dipped under their weight. The night was rather cool today, with a breeze hitting the thin curtains. They floated through the air, giving glimpses of the dark sky. "Tell me!"

Lailah shot up, her dark bangs cascading over her cold, grey eyes. "He was looking towards my direction with this intense gaze. It was hot." Lailah drooled over Zahir who had been standing there before sprinting off.

"Continue." Shaaira laid down on the bed, eagerly listening to the descriptions.

"He had shoulder-lenght hair and a slight stubble. His eyes-- it's like the sunset was trapped in them." Lailah sighed. "His nose was perfectly slender and his jawline seemed to be carved perfectly but-"

"Buuut, he's one of those street rats." Shaaira rolled her eyes,finishing the sentence. "Why can't the Princes be as beautiful as commoners?"

"Ugh, I don't know... I actually wish I come across him again."

"Be careful what you wish for, butterfly." Shaaira sat up, poking Lailah's upturned nose before standing.

"Where you off to?" Lailah raised an eyebrow.

"Packing." She gave a curt reply.

"For what?" Lailah's skin rippled as she scrunched her nose.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" Shaaira huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Okay, look. I'm visiting Thalathiyyah tomorrow. I'm spending a few weeks with Ahmed."

"And you're telling me now?"

"Because you'd talk me out of it." Shaaira pursed her lips.

"Of course I would!" Lailah fought back tears. "I have no one here, Shaaira. Only you, so I don't go insane in this godforsaken Palace! I'm always alone and spending my time reading-- like that helps."

"Aw, Lailah." Shaaira bent down to embrace her little sister in a hug but Lailah swatted her away.

"Leave it. Whatever."

"Lai-"

"Just drop it and get out." Lailah stood up, walking across her bedroom, through the curtains, and into the balcony. Her sister didn't follow, rather Lailah heard the door shut. Why couldn't Shaaira's stupid fiance come here to visit?

She gazed over the courtyard her balcony overlooked. The green plants spread over the vast land and a water fountain carved from limestone stood in the middle. Garden lamps illuminated the courtyard where she could see guards walking about.

Beyond that, she could see Ayna and the walls that surrounded The City in the distance. What was it like beyond the Kingdoms? Was there anything even out there other than city ruins and the Radiation Zone-- not to mention the Science Facilities and Oasis. Crazy thoughts would enter Lailahs minds. Sometimes she imagined venturing beyond the Kingdom and into the Waste Lands. It was known to be highly dangerous but at the same time, it was a place that many were curious about.