I tried opening my eyes, but everything was blurry. It felt like my eyelids weighed a thousand pounds, like they were glued shut by sleep itself. I blinked once… twice… forcing my lashes apart, but the world remained out of focus.

I tried again.

Still blurry.

My head throbbed softly, like a dull ache pulsing behind my temples. My throat felt dry, my lips cracked, and my entire body was heavy—so heavy it felt like I was sinking into the mattress beneath me.

I inhaled slowly, and the scent hit me immediately.

Hospitals always smelled the same.

Clean. Sterile. Cold.

My fingers twitched, and I realized I wasn’t alone.

Someone...