Laura Sterling
“Who… who are you? Am I really alive?”
My voice came out as a weak, raspy whisper, barely audible even to my own ears.
I blinked slowly, trying to adjust my eyes to the soft golden light filling the unfamiliar room.
My body was drenched in sweat, the thin hospital gown clinging uncomfortably to my skin.
Every breath felt heavy, and worst of all, my legs… they felt completely numb, like two dead weights attached to me that refused to obey.
“Why does everything hurt so much? Why am I still here, suffering? I thought the fire had finally ended it all. I almost welcomed death… at least then the pain would stop." I thought, as I felt tight knots in my chest.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as self-pity washed over me in waves.
“Look at me. Broken. Useless. A
