CHAPTER NINE

The blaring noise of my phone alarm and the chirping of the morning birds wake me up from sleep. I wipe the swollen sleep bags around the corners of my eye. I still feel very much tired and drowsy from my little lack of sleep last night.

Luke was right. Knee pains are actually worse at night. When the effects of the painkillers started to wear off, the pain in my left knee had to force me to wake up at intervals to press down the ice pack on it. I rubbed a little more ointment on the area, which also helped.

My alarm continues to ring. I gently toss to my side before gathering up the strength to sit up. I pick up my phone and swipe my finger on the screen, turning the alarm off.

After a brief moment of resting the back of my head on the headboard of my bed and running my brain through the few tasks I have mapped out for today, I climb out of my bed. I dress my bed and arrange the little disorders spread across my room.

I go through my usual morning ritual of brushing my teeth, taking