Something creaked open.
I wasn’t sure if it was the door or a drawer, but I felt the subtle shift in the air, the tug at the edges of the room. Then, without warning, a burst of brightness spilled through my closed lids, painting the back of my eyes in a blinding orange hue.
My face tensed, and my eyes squinted instinctively, trying to protect themselves from the light.
But the curtains… they were open now. The light streaming in was soft but persistent.
“Good morning, ma’am,” a familiar voice said gently.
Then a warm hand settled against my forehead pressing gently across my skin, as though checking for a fever. The gesture was so careful it made something ache inside me.
My lashes fluttered as I fought the pull of sleep. My eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the soft glow of dayligh
