Kavya’s hands trembled as she reached for Maahir. Her fingers hovered uselessly above the spreading red on his shirt, shaking so violently that she almost clawed at his wound instead of covering it.

“No..no, no, no-please..” The words tumbled out in broken whispers, her voice cracking under the weight of panic. She finally pressed down both her palms on him, but the blood escaped no matter how hard she tried. It was like trying to hold water with bare hands.