My stomach betrayed me again.
The loud growl echoed in my room, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since morning. I had been lying on the bed crying since sunrise, and now it was almost evening. My eyes were swollen, my chest heavy, and my head ached.
I wanted to keep lying there, but the hunger dragged me back. My body was weak. I pushed myself up slowly, dragging my feet to the door. Even the wooden handle felt heavy in my palm. With all my strength, I pulled it open.
The air outside my room felt cooler, but my legs didn’t want to carry me. I had curled them so long while crying that they had gone numb. Limping, I held on to the railing as I went downstairs, one step at a time. Each step was like fire shooting through my veins, but I knew I had to get food or I would faint.
The smell h
