Chapter Seven

I woke up alone with the remnants of a restless night lingering in the air. The once-cozy green plaid sheets lay cold and crumpled around me, echoing the emptiness of the space. My head throbbed with every breath I took, a dull ache that pulsed in tandem with the discontent coursing through my body—a sense of deserved punishment washed over me.

With a groan, I yanked the covers off myself, pulling them away like ripping off a Band-Aid. My dad always said that the shock of cold air was the best motivator to leave the warmth of a cozy bed, yet that wisdom did little to alleviate the discomfort of the moment. As the chill met my skin, goosebumps erupted across the exposed flesh of my arms, making the fine blonde hairs stand on end, as if they, too, bristled at the abrupt awakening.

I swung my