A sharp, twisting ache deep in her lower abdomen violently pulled Lyra out of her sleep. She groaned into her pillow, curling her knees tightly up to her chest as a familiar, heavy wave of misery washed over her. She didn't even need to check the calendar to know exactly what was happening. Her period had arrived, and it was always an absolute nightmare.
For Lyra, the first day of her cycle was easily the worst experience of the month. The pain was so intense that it made her feel physically sick to her stomach, completely destroying any appetite she had. It drained every ounce of energy from her body, leaving her so weak that she could barely even stand on her own two feet without her vision swimming.
Moving at a snail's pace, she forced herself to roll out of the mattress. Every single
