ARIANA

My eyes fluttered open slowly, the world around me swimming into focus with disorienting slowness. Everything was blurry at first—a haze of light and shadow that made no sense. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog from my vision. As the room finally came into view, my heart sank.

The space was unfamiliar, clean, and expensive-looking—like a hospital room, but not quite. The walls were a soft cream colour, adorned with minimalist artwork, and the furniture was modern and sleek. A faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, making my nose wrinkle in discomfort. The muted beeping of machines filled the quiet room, each sound a jarring...