23| Murder Attempt.

ROSALINDA.

The muffled sound of distant noises and the rhythmic beeping of machinery I heard were unusual. I wondered who was making the noises and what machine was beeping as I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt so heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible force. With a great effort, I summoned the strength to force them open, and the world exploded into blinding lights, forcing me to quickly close my eyes.

What was happening?

The intensity was overwhelming, like staring directly into the heart of the sun. I tried to open my eyes again, but this time I squinted at first, and an indistinct glow of light pierced through. I slowly opened them wider until they adjusted to the onslaught of light. Everything was blurry at first, but gradually, shapes and colours began to emerge. It took me a minute to notice the unfamiliar surroundings.

Where was I? I thought. A hospital?

One of the nurses around rushed outside, and she soon returned with a doctor, and behind them were my family—Pa