MARIA.
The heavy, suffocating darkness that had swallowed my consciousness slowly began to retreat. It happened gradually, almost painfully, as though I were struggling to drag myself out of a deep, endless abyss. Little by little, the darkness gave way to a faint warmth, and the soft, golden glow of morning light filtered through the room, gently brushing against my closed eyelids.
The next time I managed to open my eyes, I found myself lying flat on my back in the middle of an enormous mattress. For a moment, I simply stared blankly ahead, struggling to make sense of my surroundings while my consciousness slowly settled. My entire body felt terribly heavy. My skin was burning as though an unbearable fever had taken hold of me, while every muscle ached with a deep, persistent soreness.
I tried to draw in a fuller breath, but the moment my chest expanded, a sharp, throbbing pain shot straight through my spine. My body immediately tensed, and a strained gasp escaped my lips.
