Chapter Forty-three

I wake up feeling heavy and lethargic, my body refusing to budge from the soft sheets. The warmth of the sun seeps in through the window, casting a soft glow across the room. I blink my eyes, trying to get rid of the sleep that still lingers in them. But even as I sit up, I feel a dull ache in my head.

I stretch, trying to ease the tension in my muscles, but it only seems to make it worse. I can feel the soreness in my arms and legs as if I've been working out too hard. But I haven't done anything to warrant this kind of exhaustion.

As I sit up, I notice that I'm sweating profusely, my body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. I'm not even sure how long I've been asleep, but it doesn't feel like it's been enough. My mind is foggy, and I struggle to remember what I was thinking about before I drifted off.

I glance at the clock on the wall, and it takes me a moment to focus on the numbers. It reads 10 am, but it feels like it should be much later in the day. I try to get up, but my body fe