[Sera]
Time drags by in this sterile limbo, and I'm finally dressed again, perched on the edge of the hospital bed like it's a ledge I might fall off.
I rehearse my face in the mirror across the room—hollow eyes, drained cheeks, the portrait of a woman who's just carved out a piece of herself. Defeated. That's the vibe I need to sell. No cracks, no fire left.
A knock rattles the door, sharp as a warning. It swings open, and there he is—Liam, striding in like he's ticking boxes on a checklist.
My heartbeat spikes, a traitor in my chest, but I force it down, lock it away. I smooth my expression into that rehearsed mask: empty, worn thin, like I've got nothing left to give.
"Surgery's done?" His voice is neutral, but his eyes scan me, probing.
"Yes."
"How do you feel?"
"...Fine." I le
