Chapter 31

ADRIANA

As I wake, the first thing I see is the ceiling above me. It's white and plain, but there's a crack running along the corner that I can't help but fixate on. My vision is still blurry, but as it clears, I realize that I'm in a hospital room.

The distant ringing of a monitor above my head is the first thing that I hear. It's a steady beep that's comforting and annoying at the same time. The smell of drugs fills the air, it's a mix of antiseptics and something else that I can't quite place. The room is dimly lit, but I can make out the shapes of machines and equipment that I don't recognize.

I try to move but my body feels heavy, and my head is pounding. I close my eyes, trying to focus on the sound of the monitor, and take a deep breath. When I open my eyes again, I see the window by the bed, it's misty outside, and the view is hazy. I can hardly see anything but the mist. It's a strange feeling, like I&