ROSE’S POV
I woke with a groan, my head throbbing, though it wasn’t nearly as bad as the night before. I blinked, the dull light from the TV screen flickering in the background. The time on the screen read 11:35 AM, and I quickly glanced around, trying to get my bearings. It took me a moment to remember where I was—my eyes scanning the sterile hospital room, the beeping of machines around me, and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air.
I sighed and tried to sit up, my body still feeling weak, but at least the pounding in my skull had settled into something more manageable. I still felt like I’d been hit by a truck, but I wasn’t about to stay in this haze any longer.
The nurse came in to check on me and I caught her as she started to leave. "Can you call Alex for me?" I asked, my voice
