49

My consciousness fluttered on the edge of darkness, where pain and relief danced in a delicate balance. Vague impressions and disjointed thoughts ebbed and flowed, a confusing vortex that seemed to pull me under, only to toss me back to the surface.

Suddenly, a shocking cold surrounded me, opposite the burning that consumed my skin. It took me a moment to realize I was being submerged in an ice bath. The chill was penetrating, but it brought a numbing relief that my tortured body craved.

More startling was the sensation of being held, strong arms wrapped around me, securing me against a solid chest. There was a presence with me in the water, unmistakably one of the triplets, but the fog in my mind made it impossible to discern which.

I strained to catch the voices swirling around me, but it was the one murmuring soothingly near my ear that I tried to latch onto. Despite the disjointed nature of the situation, the voice brought a small amount of comfort. I was almost certain it wa