came

to turn away from it, but her body didn't follow. Something tugged at her from everywhere at once

her. Not a word. Just

a'

alm in that practiced way that n

raw, scraped clean. Her mouth tasted like me

s," the voic

th

agged on th

pieces-white ceiling tiles swimming into focus, a harsh light overhead, sha

pit

ly, like it had taken

vited. The road. The sound. Metal screaming

th

le

ike a reflex she hadn't yet unlearned. H

art st

o

empty apartment, the papers on the table, the ring left

le

ain flared as her ch

ppeared in her vision-gloved,

from her body, monitors blinking and humming with mechanical patience. The sound of her hear

Her voice ba

he nurse said. She had kind eyes. That

ccid

he word felt too small

out around her. Not di

e im

internal

r but we're

essure's s

f problems to be solved. She floated somewhere just above it, listening, det

arp enough to steal the air from her lungs. Sh

mured. "That's normal. We've given yo

rm

out this f

then caught again on the sam

into this room with that same distant look on his fac

rt more tha

ntering Mia's line of sight. "Ma'

pike of pain through her head. She winced, a sm

nurse said softly. "You

halfway between a sob and a breath. Doing well. If this was he

omething near Mia's arm. Then she hesitate

ld call for you?" she ask

landed li

sb

es whitening. Images flashed-Allen's back as he walked away, the sound of h

h opened

need to say his name. To let someone else take over. To

way he had looked at her. No

acea

ed again, forced the word out

N

a whisper. Thin

. Looked at her

ers of her eyes, blurring the ceiling into soft, shapeles

like she understood more than Mia had sa

shifted. Not relief.

since everything fell apart. A smal

g slowed, ju

ing to keep you here for observation," he said. "There was some internal

tio

again, like gravity had doubled

lders. The fabric was warm. Too warm. She felt suddenly fragile bene

ng. The room settled into a quieter rhythm-the hum of mac

unted the tiles. Tried to anc

protective, though she didn't fully understand why yet. She rested her

she thou

She hadn't just walked out of an apartme

ere. Between brea

der. Not sleep. Just that thin, floating space whe

y, a monitor be

s stil

on