Bitter Awakening

Ina's eyes fluttered open to the unfamiliar surroundings of a dimly lit room. Her head pounded, a dull, persistent throb that matched the disorientation clouding her thoughts. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, and slowly, fragments of the previous night started to piece themselves together. The room was unfamiliar, a small hotel room with a single bed, and her body was tangled in the sheets.As she shifted, she felt a dull ache between her legs, a sensation both strange and uncomfortable. Panic started to set in, and she turned her head to see a man lying next to her, his back turned. He had dark hair, tousled from sleep, and his muscular shoulders rose and fell with each steady breath. A quick scan of the room showed clothes strewn carelessly around, a stark contrast to her usual neatness.It hit her like a tidal wave—she had just lost her virginity to a stranger.And she had no memory of the events that had led to this moment. The bar, the laughter, the drinks—all of that she recalled in snippets, but nothing after coming to this room. Her mind was a blank slate, the details lost in a haze of alcohol and confusion. She couldn’t remember the man's name, how they had ended up here, or why she had allowed this to happen.Her heart raced as she glanced at the bedside table, where her phone lay, its screen dark. She reached for it, her hand trembling. The moment she unlocked it, her stomach dropped. Twenty missed calls. The notifications were from both her stepmother and her best friend, Lila. The urgency in the repeated calls was unmistakable.She sat up slowly, careful not to wake the man beside her. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions: shame, fear, confusion. She couldn't face him, not now, not after what had happened. She needed to get out, to figure out what to do next.Ina quietly slipped out of bed, gathering her clothes from the floor. She dressed quickly, her movements frantic and jerky. She paused for a moment, looking back at the man. He looked peaceful, unaware of the turmoil she was experiencing. Part of her wanted to wake him, to confront what had happened, but the larger part of her just wanted to escape.She tiptoed to the door, turning the knob slowly to avoid making any noise. The hallway outside was empty, the early morning light filtering through the windows. She closed the door behind her softly and hurried down the corridor, her heart pounding in her chest.As soon as she was outside, she took a deep breath, the cool air a stark contrast to the stuffy room she had just left. She dialed her stepmother's number with trembling fingers, bracing herself for the onslaught. The phone barely rang once before her stepmother's voice exploded from the speaker."Ina, where the hell have you been all night? Do you have any idea what's been going on?"Ina's throat tightened. "I'm sorry, I—""Your father had a heart attack!" her stepmother cut in, her voice a mix of anger and fear. "We've been trying to reach you all night. Get to the hospital now!"The words hit Ina like a sledgehammer. Her father, her rock, the one stable figure in her tumultuous life, was in the hospital. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she could barely choke out a response. "I'm on my way."She ended the call and immediately called for a cab, her hands shaking so badly she could barely type in her location. The ride to the hospital felt like an eternity, her mind racing with worry for her father and guilt over her actions. She replayed the events of the previous night over and over, wishing she could remember, wishing she had made different choices.When the cab finally pulled up to the hospital, she threw a handful of bills at the driver and rushed inside, barely acknowledging his surprised thanks. She sprinted to the reception desk, out of breath."I'm here for Robert Carter. He had a heart attack," she gasped.The nurse behind the desk looked up, her expression softening at the sight of Ina's panic. "He's in the ICU. Take the elevator to the third floor, then turn left."Ina nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks as she ran to the elevator. The ride up was agonizingly slow, each floor ticking by with excruciating slowness. When the doors finally opened, she rushed out, following the nurse's directions until she found herself in front of the ICU.Her stepmother, Karen, was pacing outside, her face pale and drawn. When she saw Ina, her expression hardened."Where have you been?" Karen demanded. "We've been trying to reach you all night!"Ina's voice was barely a whisper. "I was... I was out. I'm so sorry."Karen's eyes softened slightly, seeing the genuine remorse in Ina's face. "Your father needs you now. He’s stable, but it's serious. We don't know when he'll wake up."Ina nodded, too choked up to speak. She pushed open the door to the ICU and walked to her father's bedside. The sight of him lying there, pale and frail, broke her heart. She took his hand, tears streaming down her face."Dad, I'm here," she whispered. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner."As she sat there, holding her father's hand, the reality of the situation began to sink in. She had made a terrible mistake the night before, but now she had to be strong for her father. She had to find a way to deal with the consequences of her actions and support her family through this crisis.The hours passed slowly in the ICU. Ina stayed by her father's side, her mind a chaotic mess of guilt, shame, and fear. Karen came in and out, occasionally giving her updates from the doctors, but mostly leaving her to her thoughts.Lila, her best friend, finally managed to reach her. When Ina answered the call, Lila's voice was filled with concern. "Ina, I've been so worried! Are you okay? What's going on?"Ina took a deep breath. "It's my dad, Lila. He had a heart attack. I'm at the hospital now.""Oh my God, Ina, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?""Just... just be there for me, okay? I don't know what to do."Lila's voice was soothing. "I'm here for you, Ina. I'll come to the hospital as soon as I can."Ina felt a small measure of comfort from Lila's words. She ended the call and returned to her vigil by her father's side. The doctors came and went, checking his vitals, adjusting his medications, but there was little change in his condition.As the day turned into night, Ina's exhaustion began to catch up with her. She hadn't slept since the previous night, and the emotional toll was wearing her down. Karen eventually convinced her to go home and rest, promising to call if there was any change.Reluctantly, Ina agreed. She kissed her father's forehead and whispered, "I'll be back soon, Dad. Please get better."The cab ride home was a blur, her mind still reeling from everything that had happened. When she finally walked through the door of her apartment, she collapsed onto the couch, too tired to even make it to her bedroom. Sleep claimed her almost immediately, a deep, dreamless sleep born of pure exhaustion.