Elaine
I sank against the rough trunk of the small tree, its bark biting into my shoulder through the thin jacket I still wore. The world felt muffled, the woods around me silent except for the irregular rasp of my own breathing. Every muscle in my body throbbed with pain, a relentless reminder of the chaos that had thrown me to the ground moments ago. I had somehow managed to pull myself into a sitting position, dragging my broken leg with sheer willpower and sliding over to this tree, and now that I was here, the cold soil and scattered rocks beneath me pressed reminders of my vulnerability. My hands shook as I wrapped my arms around my chest, pressing them to my shoulders, as though that small gesture could somehow shield me from the pain or the gnawing fear creeping up my spine.
I cl
