Zaleekhah wakes up at 3:34 a.m., a time that has come to symbolize melancholy and sadness for her. The hour feels heavy, as though it pulls her deeper into her emotions. She reaches for her laptop, hoping to distract herself, but is immediately met with distressing news about scorpion invasions in Egypt. These invasions, caused by erratic weather patterns, deepen the unease in her heart as she processes the unsettling image of nature’s havoc. In a desperate attempt to escape her spiraling thoughts, she turns to sleeping pills, a temporary solution to quiet the storm within. Yet, the sadness lingers, amplified by the weight of her troubled mind, which has been restless for some time.

The next moment of emotional disruption comes when Zaleekhah receives a message from her husband, Brian, telling her that he is filing for divorce. This message forces her to revisit their marriage and everything that led to this painful moment. Zaleekhah wrestles with how to approach her family, particularly her uncle, who has been her pillar of support for years. The contrast between the cheerful birthday wishes flooding her inbox and the emotional void she feels intensifies her sense of isolation. It’s almost as if life is moving on for everyone else while she’s caught in a moment of grief and uncertainty. However, just as Zaleekhah’s mind becomes overwhelmed, there’s an unexpected knock at the door. Nen, her vibrant friend, enters, and Zaleekhah is momentarily lifted by the warmth and lightness that Nen always brings into her life. Nen’s thoughtful gift of gingerbread biscuits, shaped like ancient Mesopotamian tablets and inscribed with cuneiform writing, offers an endearing and humorous respite from the emotional chaos. The biscuits, each representing a word, seem to symbolize the deeper, often unspoken connections that Zaleekhah and Nen share.

Their conversation naturally flows from the playful to the profound as Zaleekhah learns about Nen’s tattoo business, which uniquely incorporates cuneiform symbols in her designs. Nen shares her admiration for female figures in history, noting how their roles and contributions are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. This sparks a meaningful discussion about the underappreciated strength and resilience of women throughout history. Zaleekhah finds herself opening up about her own life’s challenges, revealing that the loss of her parents in a flash flood has shaped her perspective on the world. The tragic event left her with a deep connection to water, which now feels both a source of solace and a reminder of the past. The depth of their shared conversation allows Zaleekhah to feel a sense of release, as if her burdens have been lightened by the connection she has with Nen.

As the day progresses, Nen suggests that her tattoos serve as more than just body art—they are a way to tell stories, capturing personal histories and legacies through ink. Zaleekhah is moved by the idea that such a physical form can be so deeply tied to meaning and emotion. In these quiet moments of connection, filled with laughter and insight, Zaleekhah finds a spark of hope amidst the emotional darkness she’s been carrying. Inspired by Nen’s openness and their shared bond, Zaleekhah invites her to her birthday dinner at her uncle’s house that evening. This simple yet meaningful gesture marks a shift in Zaleekhah’s life—a step away from her isolation and toward the potential for new companionship and healing. She’s learning to embrace the connections that come her way, even in the midst of life’s ongoing struggles, as she prepares to face the challenges of the future with the support of those who care for her. This chapter closes on a note of transformation, with Zaleekhah opening her heart to the possibility of change, both in her personal life and her outlook on the world around her.