I woke up to sore limbs and sweet bitterness in my chest. The sun peeking through the windows told me it was already past noon.

Strangely I was feeling better than I was feeling last night. The guilt still tripped my thoughts now and then but except for that, I was not feeling anything—not crane hatred I thought I felt for my captors. I just couldn’t believe that I almost…. cried just because Ralph was hurt because of me.

Ralph.

I looked to my side to find the beside empty. My hands automatically moved to the cold sheets and I rubbed the spot: I wish he was here so that...