Chapter 14

Two hours later I woke up. I reached blindly for my phone, typing in the Wi-Fi password that I’d been given at the reception and hoping I’d gotten it right, as I didn’t think I was up to hopping on the phone with a complete stranger to just talk.

I loathed reaching out and randomly imposing on people even when they were literally obligated to help, as somehow my anxiety somehow always managed to make me believe that I was inconveniencing them when there were better things they could be doing.

To my great relief I’d remembered it correctly, and shortly after a flood of text messages from Paula and Sidd came asking if I’d arrived safely, followed by missed FaceTime calls from both of my parents. I shot off quick replies to all of them, apologizing as I explained that I’d been asleep before plugging in my phone to charge by the bedside drawer.

Stumbling blindly to the bathroom, I relieved myself, and only after I washed my face w