nsciousness with something dramatic-a sneeze, a fi

up with a

rd like an announcement no one

groans from nearby patients. I froze, my eyes

... trau

ed my nose. My head spun slightly as I blin

quiet waves; my arms, my le

I was in

ide table beside me. A few flowers sat on it, ne

zziness pulling at me, so I re

saw an old wom

e awake." She s

r voice felt wa

hispered out w

laug

ld," she sai

r her face. I didn't remember anything at all. What

something, anything, but instead, pain exploded in my he

st. I touched it carefully, watching

walked in, dressed

He whispered softly

a little headache

l give you something

before my br

gorgeous," I mut

'" he asked, start

gorgeous," the gra

my face away, suddenly very

and the doctor smi

you can still remember some things, but recent issues could be hard to remember. So please, if you

my head slowly. I didn't remem

rry about; we will get through this." The grand

hen tears slipp

or a contact you can reach out to." She said, pointing a small phone

ully, like it m

voice spoke

leave; the meeting

my spine. It was deep, smooth, and almost hypnot

he doctor. Even though I lost half of my mem

ther taming it unless he had to. It framed a sharp jaw that looked carved

e in place, deep, cold, and distant, like they were always

quiet weight, unreadable, as if whatever l

ally and adjusted

wake," Gr

t even l

to stay with her; Austi

hat, he turned

cold." I muttered

ys that rud

ctor said with a sm

you are alive

em outside. Grandma

left in the room, I quietly moved closer to the door an

e do about her

m the accident, so that takes the responsibili

way we can reach her family." Austin s

or something; I don't care," he

kly as I heard Rais

rth, no feelings attached, and after b

all e

art s

art; it was none of my business. I returned to

**

t fe

small phone beside me suddenly rang.

ced as I pi

Maybe this would le

eaking with Miss

oment befor

es

u, but there was no response. We are sorry to inform

hed straight t

by dead?" I asked,

to retrieve the dead b

all e

emories shifted painfully. For a moment, I remembered my

cr

my head screamed in protest. Pain slammed int

st it, shaking, clutching my

d out of the ward and fou

her wa

felt empty-useless. Like dying would be e

closer to

palms as I leaned forward slightly

n swam, my head pounding in uneven rhythms. My legs felt we

ticed a sh

. I didn't have the strength to care who it was. I turned my face aw

haos e

the door, screaming wildly, his voice loud and broken. Somet

s rushed behind him, shouting, scrambling,

rop it, please.

racked with

thing was ragged and unstable. His e

ocked

, he lunged towards

ip was tight, crushing, and cutting off my breath.

nst his chest as he

of my throat as I struggled weak

her go." T

ic, but no one moved close enough. The man's gr

icked in. I h

ply and bit his hand

red in

oment came

e. My body moved forward. His hand fisted in my ha

ted as the railing pressed sharply

edge, and everyt

air rushed past me, whipping my hair, stealing my breath. My h

ught mine. His grip

e sudden stop sending pain shooting through my arm. I dangled th

golden wristwatch on

r the lights, i

d man I met in the

pped onto my face. I blinked, st

dripping steadily from his nose, d

eyes were squeezed shut as he held

d his instinctively, my na

ly, his gri

ly. Enough

h me as I tried to pull him back, tried to

was t

from mine, and

happened; w