Rosie’s POVWhen my eyes opened, I was in the hospital wing. Sunlight spilled in through the tall windows, and the scent of clean linen and herbs in the air. My body still ached, but it was distant now, dulled to a low throb. How long had I been asleep?I couldn't tell.Then, I remembered my dream. The dream Uncle had insisted was not one. I turned over, and he was there.Uncle sat slouched in the chair beside my bed, his elbows braced on his knees, his head tipped forward slightly as if he’d been watching me even while I slept. Dark smudges shadowed his eyes, and there was a tension in his jaw I’d never seen quite like this. “You’re awake.” His voice was rough, as though it had been used too much in the past day—or not at all.“You stayed.” I came out husky and dry.“Of course I stayed,” he adjusted, leaning back in the chair with a slow exhale as if he had been holding his breath for days. I watched him with caution, unsure what to expect now.“I have things I need to tell you.
Last Updated : 2025-08-15 Read more