Ayla
My consciousness came back slowly, creeping in as my body hesitated to fully wake up. The first thing I felt was the pain in my head; heavy, throbbing followed by the sharp smell of antiseptic that instantly made my stomach turn. The air felt cold, even though I was pretty sure my body temperature was slightly elevated.
I opened my eyes.
A white ceiling. Bright neon lights. Pale curtains reflecting the glare.
My heart started racing faster than it should have. My memories jumped around, out of order, nothing whole, just fragments. Parking lot lights. The sound of my own footsteps and one name I kept calling over and over in my head.
“River…”
My voice came out soft and broken, like I’d been crying for too long. I tried to lift myself up, but the pain in my head made my vision spi
