She looked like someone who'd survived something terrible and wasn't sure they wanted to survive what came next.
Liora turned away from the mirror.
The shower was small but the water was blessedly hot once it finally heated. She stood under the spray longer than necessary, letting it wash away days of sweat and fear and the lingering smell of the cage. The heat helped ease some of the muscle tension, though it couldn't touch the deeper aches.
She found shampoo and soap, basic brands, masculine scents, clearly Thessian's supplies. She used them anyway, washing her hair twice to work out the tangles, scrubbing her skin until it was pink and raw and finally felt clean.
When she finally turned off the water and stepped out, the mirror was fogged and she couldn't see her reflection. Small mercy.
