She had not spent three years starving in complete darkness.
She had received food, water, clothing, and shelter.
Yet the existence of those resources raised a more troubling question.
If Imran could leave the cave, why had Layan remained there?
And why had he not informed anyone that the missing student was alive?
The First Time She Tried to Escape
For the first several months, Layan believed her stay in the cave would be temporary.
Every morning, she asked Imran about the outside world.
Had the weather improved?
Were the mountain paths safe?
Had he found another way through the rocks?
Could he take a message to her father?
Imran answered some questions patiently and avoided others.
He told her that certain passages remained dangerous.
He said he had not encountered anyone during his trips outside.
He promised they would continue looking for a safe way out.
But Layan increasingly felt trapped by uncertainty.
