“It really doesn’t look good for me, my children,” Azzmi’s father said, his voice heavy with sorrow. “The cancer’s spread to my lungs.”

Raven had never expected to hear something like this, and the shock hit him hard. It felt like a weight was pressing down on his chest, especially for Azzmi. He looked over at her, and she was frozen in place, her eyes wide and unblinking as she struggled to find the right words.

The silence that followed was thick with tension. No one spoke, and ...