Chapter 9: A Deeper Scar

TW: Victim Blaming

I woke up to the sound of a heart monitor beeping annoyingly beside me. My body ached all over, every breath sending a sharp pain through my ribs. I tried to move but felt restrained, as if heavy weights were holding me down. Blinking against the light, I slowly became aware of my surroundings.

The steady beeping of monitors filled the room, accompanied by the faint hum of machinery. An IV was hooked into my arm, and the dull ache where the needle pierced my skin added to the overall discomfort. I was in a hospital bed, surrounded by white sheets and a thin, scratchy blanket.

My mouth felt dry, and my throat was sore. I turned my head slightly, wincing at the pain that shot through my neck, and saw a glass of water on the bedside table. Reaching for it seemed impossible, so I let out a small sigh of frustration.