I opened my eyes and I blinked, the heavy stone of unconsciousness slowly rolling away from my mind.
The world did not return with the scent of granite or the metallic tang of blood. Instead, the sharp scent of wild pine and damp loam filled my senses.
The moonlight had decorated the landscape with a breathtaking beauty, filtering through the trees, across the forest floor.
"How is this even possible?" I asked.
Then I gasped, the sound sharp and loud, as a sudden shock filled my chest.
I placed both of my trembling hands to my lips.
"I spoke," I whispered, the words tumbling out in an awe. My voice sounded deeper than I had imagined in my silent years, yet it carried a soft, melodic warmth that felt completely natural. "I can talk!"
Then, like a dam breaking behind my eyelids, the
