The Things We Survive

Mah never asked for the life she was given.
Born from an arranged marriage, raised by her grandmother, and scarred by silence and secrets, she learned too early that love often comes with loss.
At thirteen, her innocence was shattered by betrayal within her own family.
At seventeen, her heart belonged to Omad-a kind, disciplined officer she only knew from a distance, whose martyrdom left her grieving in silence.
And by eighteen, she had promised herself she'd never love again.
Until a message from a stranger changes everything.
Hazer isn't like the boys Mah grew up avoiding. He's grounded, clear about his future, yet still has the spark of a young man figuring life out. He shares her passions and speaks to her in a way that makes her feel both seen and alive again.
But love is never simple.
Hazer has his flaws, and Mah has her fears. Dreams and values clash, wounds run deep. There are silences, weeks of no contact, moments where he drifts and she wonders if he'll ever truly stay. And in the shadow of all she has lost, Mah must decide what she's willing to sacrifice
and what it really means to survive.

The Things We Survive is a story of love, loss, family, faith, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going, even when the world tries to break you.