Morning falls so fast.
Riley barely realized when he finally drifted into sleep, when the exhaustion of the night finally overtook him.
And now.. even as the faint light seeps through the curtains, cutting pale lines across the room, he feels as though he's waking from a dream, or perhaps a nightmare, though he can't tell which.
Every muscle in his body aches in protest, stiff and sore from hours of tension, while the throbbing pain in his head refuses to relent, a vicious pulse that seems to have rooted itself behind his eyes.
His hand rises automatically to press against it, hoping for relief that never comes.
His eyelids are heavy beyond bearing, as if weighed down by the memories and mistakes of the night, yet he forces them open.
Slowly, he realizes his legs are dangling off the bed while the rest of his body lies back, supported by the mattress.
He sits up cautiously, letting his senses take in the room with a careful wariness.
