The desert stretched out before us like an endless ocean of sand, each dune a rolling wave that rose and fell as far as the eye could see. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that danced across the ground, making the sand shimmer like gold. But despite the beauty of the landscape, all I could feel was a growing sense of dread.
Aimee walked beside me, her steps faltering as she struggled to keep up. I could see the exhaustion etched into her face, the dark circles under her eyes a stark reminder of everything she had been through. She was trying to be strong, but I knew how much this journey was taking out of her—how much the power inside her was tearing her apart.
