Chapter 4: Convalescence
As I swam to consciousness, the first thing—the only thing—I was aware of was an acute level of pain that seemed to come from all parts of my body. It felt like I was one huge bruise. My first utterance, therefore, was merely a weak but prolonged groan.
As if in response, a cool dampness passed gently over my forehead, down my face and around my neck. This didn’t diminish the pain, but it was reassuring. When I opened my mouth to speak, however, I discovered my lips were too dry. I tried to lick my lips, and discovered that my tongue, my entire mouth was dry as well.
Thus defeated, I desisted and sank back into the sea of pain—until something very wet touched my lips. I opened them and it pressed forward slightly, so that when I closed my lips on it, I felt its
