H A I L E Y
The world came back in a series of disjointed flashes. The scent of antiseptic. The beeping of machines. A low murmur of voices. A crushing pain on my chest.
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt like they were glued shut. I tried to speak, but my throat was dry, my lips cracked.
"She's waking up," a familiar voice said. Valerie.
I felt a warm hand on mine, a gentle squeeze. "Hailey? Can you hear me?"
I finally managed to pry my eyes open, the light in the room blinding. It felt like I haven’t seen light in years.
"Valerie?" My voice was a hoarse, unfamiliar croak.
"I'm here," she said, her eyes filled with tears. "You're okay. You're going to be okay."
I looked around the room, my mind foggy, my memories a jumbled mess. I was in a hospital room, the white walls a star
