I woke up this time to the sunlight streaming in my face and the dull noise of the machine beeping, but this time I tried to keep my heart rate steady, or else it would trigger the alarm.

Slowly I tried to blink back the weight that had settled on my eyelids. It was a struggle trying to get it open, but I managed it, and I stared at the ceiling above me.

It was strange I couldn’t feel any pain; whatever they were pumping into me had managed to dull every sensation.

However, with every blink, my senses began to come alive, my nose flaring as I perceived the...