Riley woke up in the hospital with a start.
She gasped for air and blinked rapidly, trying to adjust her eyes to the bright light that surrounded her.
Everything hurt. Every bone, every muscle, every nerve, every cell. She groaned and tried to move but instantly regretted it. She hissed in pain and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to calm down.
“Daddy! Riley’s up!”
Suddenly, she heard a voice. A voice that sounded way too familiar. She forced her eyes open and looked to her right. Chloe was sitting on a chair, clutching a teddy bear close to her chest. She had tears in her eyes and a huge smile on her face.
“Riley,” she cried out. “You’re alive!”
And then the little girl was jumping out of the chair, ready to pounce, when someone walked through the door and cleared their throa
