My Perfect Marriage

Chapter35

Gradually, something outside of Sophia's consciousness brings her back to awareness. She senses a gentle swishing sound, accompanied by a growing warmth and fluttering heat that gradually spreads from her back, heels, skull, and legs. As her limbs tingle back to life, she begins to cough, her body wracked with a violent choking fit that fully rouses her awake, with searing pain in her lungs. Her eyes flutter open, through the haze of a throbbing headache that makes her feel nauseous and disoriented, as if her body no longer belongs to her.

Her fingers twitch involuntarily and a sensation under her hand catches her attention. Blinking and focusing, she realizes her hand is resting on a mixture of wet, shiny, tiny stones and pebbles, embedded in gritty gravel and sand. Her fingertips are dirty, coated with clingy grit that clings to her wrinkled skin, especially under her nails. Groaning loudly, she attempts to lift her head and shift her shoulders, only to be met with aching discomfort. Coughing again, she brings up water, phlegm, and the metallic taste of blood, causing her to gag. Intense hunger pangs and all-over body aches assail her, while her cold and damp belly reflects the surface on which she lies—bumpy, textured, and wrapped in a layer of gritty dampness. Her senses gradually return, bringing back the sensation to her previously heavy and numbed body.

It takes a moment for Sophia to fully come to her senses and orient herself. The dull light of the rising sun warms her frigid body and surroundings, yet she struggles to move properly. Her hair tugs as she attempts to tilt her head, causing her to groan weakly before sinking back into her previous position, lacking the energy to do more. Her skull is incredibly sensitive, making her entire head ache unbearably.

Lying immobile, she scans her surroundings. As she turns her gaze, she sees an expanse of terrain stretching out before her. While she cannot see it from her current position, she can hear the gentle lapping of the water washing up on the shore. The distant swoosh of the sea serves as a subtle hum, rather than an invasive sound, as her hearing is affected by waterlogged eardrums. She feels a gentle tickle on her left foot as the water comes closer, causing her to cringe in discomfort, unable to manage much more.

No longer in the water, Sophia realizes that dawn approaches, evidenced by the incoming tide that threatens to wash her away. Disoriented but increasingly conscious, her memory floods back quickly, and she gathers the strength to attempt to get up once again.

Sophia is overwhelmed by pain and the struggle to breathe as her lungs battle the heaviness that weighs down her limbs. With great effort, she manages to drag her knees under her in a bent-over position and runs her fingers through her hair at the back of her head, tearing free from the branches that had trapped her. In the process, she loses strands of hair and injures her hands. The tree behind her had saved her life, apparently dragging her ashore while she remained unconscious.

Realizing that the tide is returning after depositing her on the shore, Sophia deduces that hours have passed since the crash of Jyeon's car. Based on her recollections from high school, she realizes she has spent at least twelve hours in this state, if not more. She notes the fact with disbelief, weakly sitting up and pushing herself onto her knees, looking around in astonishment. The experience has left her disoriented, and the realization that she had no awareness of her surroundings during that time hits her hard. She doesn't understand how she is still alive, though she feels as though she might be on the verge of death.

Surveying her surroundings, she finds herself on a beach-like area with sparse forest behind her and no signs of civilization in sight. It appears to be a cove with an arc-shaped entrance that limits her view. The foggy weather shrouds everything beyond the sea, making it muggy and threatening rain. All she can see is open water, with mountains possibly concealed in the mist. She cannot determine the direction she came from, as the view provides no clues about the location of her city; it's an unclear and isolated day. The sudden sense of hopelessness washes over her, trembling her lip with despair.

Physically and mentally exhausted, Sophia doesn't have the capacity to dissect her emotions. The fatigue and grogginess she experiences give her the sensation of being inebriated, muddling her senses even in a fully awake state. Impulsively, she touches her forehead and discovers caked blood and gritty sand covering most of it. Following the trail, she feels a massive lump along her hairline but becomes too afraid to further explore. She would rather not discover if she has a cave-like opening in her skull.

With a bit of success, she navigates her limbs and manages to stand, relying on the support of the tree while wobbling and collapsing twice before reaching her feet. The effort required is immense. Her skin appears uncomfortably icy to the touch, giving her a bluish tint, and her entire naked body is marked with cuts, grazes, and bruises from her altercation with Celine and the accident. The pain, however, is indistinguishable amidst the overall ache that permeates her entire being.

Aware that she cannot remain in her current location, Sophia feels a deep thirst that contrasts with the chilling cold she experiences. Despite the cold, she feels suffocatingly hot and feverish, accompanied by waves of dizziness. With every step, her feet are stabbed and scratched by the pebbles, but she continues walking, her arms hanging by her side and her head bobbing as if unsupported by her neck. Without a clear plan, she instinctively moves toward the treeline, knowing that getting away from the water and sea breeze is the logical choice for now.

As she walks, the terrain changes beneath her feet, transitioning from the pebble shore to an area between widely spaced spruce trees. The twigs and debris on the ground further irritate her skin, causing her to stop frequently and rub them off while gritting her teeth at the stinging pain. She wipes the blood from her injuries onto her already filthy and drenched pale pink camisole dress, maintaining her motion. Though she feels far from well, barely holding herself together, she knows that surviving the previous ordeal does not guarantee her safety; exposure and hidden wounds remain looming threats. Sophia understands that finding help soon is crucial, as her chances of survival diminish with each passing moment.

She walks in a dissociative state, losing track of time and repeatedly entering a dazed state. Startled each time she comes back to awareness, she notices that her surroundings appear slightly different. This phenomenon occurs at least ten times, but she loses count. She wonders if she has a concussion, without any sense of how long the episodes last. Regardless, she marvels at her legs' ability to continue moving despite her disoriented mind. As the sun ascends higher in the sky, bringing warmth to parts of her body she couldn't previously feel, the limited shading provided by the trees brings a welcome touch of comfort.

The passage of time is unclear, and Sophia's weary legs cause her to stumble and fall numerous times, resulting in further injuries to her palms and elbows. Nevertheless, her determination to keep going exceeds the physical hardships she endures. Money and power hold no value in her current situation. All she has is herself and the inner strength she knows she possesses, refusing to succumb to defeat. Sophia has never been one to quit or passively accept her fate.