With a heavy sigh, I eased myself out of bed and cracked the stiff joints in my neck and back with a roll of my shoulders. I glanced out the window of my bedroom, frowning at the fresh blanket of snow dusting over the trees.

It was the first snow of the season, and it was earlier than usual—a shiver through my spine.

From the corner of my eyes, I glanced at the pills on the table. My head was pounding, I couldn't feel my fingers, and everything hurt, but I knew this was exactly what the pills did.

Nausea bubbled in my throat the more I recalled how my...