Lyla

It was a weird feeling—being lonely in a house full of people.

While Rashid and Zayed huddled in one of the offices downstairs, sorting through paperwork and whatever they had pulled up on the computer and tablets, Melanie kept me company with bad TV and a rotating door of food.

I could tell she felt bad, not exactly knowing what would make me feel better. And in truth, I didn’t know either. ...