LIORA
Waking up felt like punishment.
Pain sat heavy behind my eyes, deep and unrelenting. My mouth tasted dry and bitter, like something rotten had been left there overnight. Even breathing made my head throb. That alone explained why drinking an entire twelve-pack by myself had been a terrible choice.
Eyelids tried to lift, then dropped again. They felt too heavy to obey. When they finally opened, the room swayed. Sitting up happened too fast, and memories slammed into me before I could brace for them.
The reason for the drinking.
The reason for everything.
My head screamed in protest. A low groan slipped out as I fell back onto the mattress, staring up at the ceiling while shame and pain settled into my chest.
Darius had humiliated me. Not quietly. Not privately. He had done it i
