“Ali,” I whispered, blinking my eyes a few times as I tried to clear my blurry vision. My head ached in my skull as the pungent smell of the hospital filled my nose. My body felt stiff from lying still for so long, but the exhaustion I felt was far worse. I didn’t want to move, especially once I noticed the tingling sensation running up my side. The slight movement of my right arm, up and down with each soft breath of the girl cuddling up to my side. A smile tugged at my lips.
“She’s right there sweetheart,” my mother’s voice whispered. My eyes finally cleared, seeing her hovering over the side of my bed. Her hand reached up, brushing my hair from my forehead. Her lips turned up in a smile, but her eyes said something else as they looked down into mine. The shallow blue glow was hidden be
