I slowly became aware again. Everything around me was quiet and filled with light. I come back slowly, and pain is the first thing I notice; it was dull and heavy, my limbs ache, and my head throbs in a steady, deep rhythm, as if my heart is learning to beat again.
I heard voices as I drifted in and out; it blended with my breathing, with the soft shuffle of footsteps along the corridor.
The distinctive beeping of monitors keeps a constant rhythm like a mechanical heartbeat, while the crisp smell of antiseptics lingers in the air.
The sheets beneath me feel coarse against my skin, a stark contrast to the smooth, cool touch of the IV needle in my arm.
A hand squeezes mine.
"Elena," someone whispers. "Hey… you're okay. You're safe."
I open my eyes.
Light stabs behind my eyelids. I groan, turning my head slightly.
Adrian's face swims into focus.
