Chapter 60

Eliana

I awoke with my throat so dry and burning up, my head still heavy, and my muscles sore. Slowly, I pulled myself up, grunting like a wounded animal. I smiled briefly when I noticed that I was in Nick's shirt, with no bra beneath, just my favourite red panties. My memory was still fresh, and the wound in my heart that my mother's actions had caused was still bleeding.

"Nicholas," I called, breaking into a series of coughs as I looked around for him. Thoughts about how lucky I was to have such a loving man ran through my mind side by side with those of my mom.

"Nick?" I pushed the comforter off me, draped my legs over the edge of the bed, and then stood on the fluffy, soft area rug. When I didn't get a response, I decided to go downstairs for a glass of warm water and find something to eat while at it. Dragging my feet along the hallway while looking at the eye-catching art, I caught a familiar voice.

"Mom?" I whispered to myself, furrowi