Chapter One Hundred And Sixteen
The long drive back to the city of Chicago felt significantly longer than it ever should have. The open highway seemed to stretch out endlessly ahead of us, a flat ribbon of gray asphalt that cut through fields and industrial landscapes, slowly pulling us further and further away from the small-town sanctuary we had cherished. The peaceful country roads quickly transformed into busy lanes, and the quiet scenery faded into a blur of fast cars and heavy traffic.
Throughout the entire journey, Khalid kept his left hand firmly on the steering wheel, navigating the car with smooth, practiced ease. His right hand, however, never once left mine. He kept our fingers tightly locked together, resting our joined hands on the center console between us. Every now and
