The sunlight streamed through the open window, casting a warm glow on the walls of the hospital room. Ava’s eyelids fluttered, her body sluggish and heavy as though she were swimming through mud. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled her nostrils, and faint voices murmured just beyond the edges of her awareness.
Then, she opened her eyes.
Everything was blurry at first, the world spinning and her throat dry like sandpaper. She groaned softly, a sound that seemed to trigger a rush of movement.
“Ava?”
The voice was unmistakable—deep, rough, and tinged with urgency. Lesley.
Suddenly, his face was above hers, his hazel eyes wide with a mixture of anger, relief, and something softer she couldn’t quite place. “You’re awake,” he said, his tone almost accusatory.
She tried to speak, but her
