TWENTY TWO

I woke up feeling a lot worse than I did before sleeping. I had very little experience with hospitals from when I was still home but I was certain the world had not changed enough for hospitals to go from being a place where people got better to becoming a place they got worse.

A groan slipped past my lips as I tried to stretch myself. The pain had gone from being localized to my head to taking over my whole body.

My muscles ached and my limbs felt like I had run a marathon and only stopped when I passed out. The dry feeling in my mouth had returned too. Overall, I felt like I’d been hit on the head and dragged through concrete.

“You’re awake, good,” Ronan commented, walking into the room. “I should’ve woken you earlier but you looked so peaceful.”

“I don’t feel peaceful.” I croaked out, instantly regretting the action. My throat felt rough and charred and the sound felt like dragging a pointy finger through an open wound.

Ronan poured a glass of water and emptied the contents