Lily POV
Everything hurt
Brightness. That was the first thing I became aware of—a harsh, glaring light that seemed to pierce straight through my eyelids. Pain followed, radiating from what felt like every inch of my body, a dull, persistent throb that intensified with each shallow breath.
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt sealed shut, heavy and uncooperative. My mouth was dry, as if lined with cotton. I attempted to lift my hand to shield myself from the light, but my arm was surprisingly heavy, refusing to obey my commands.
"She's awake," a faraway voice said, the words floating to me as if through water. "Get the doctor."
The sound of hurried footsteps, then more voices, murmuring too low for me to make out the words. I tried again to open my eyes, managing only a sliver this time. Blurry figures hovered above me, their features indistinct.
