Elena POV
The operating room was so bright it hurt my eyes and everything was cold and metallic and terrifying, and I lay on the table with my arms strapped down and a blue sheet blocking my view of what was happening below.
Lily stood next to my head holding my hand and I could feel her warmth through the surgical glove she was wearing. "You're doing great, you're so brave."
"I don't feel brave." My voice was shaking. "I'm terrified."
"That's okay, being scared and being brave are the same thing sometimes." Lily squeezed my hand. "Just keep breathing."
"I can't feel anything." I stared at the ceiling tiles and tried not to think about what the surgeon was doing. "Is that normal?"
"That's the epidural working, it's supposed to block all sensation from your chest down." Lily looked to
