Anna’s POVThe first thing I felt was pain.Not sharp.Not sudden.But deep.Like it had settled into my bones and decided to stay.I didn’t open my eyes immediately.Because I was afraid.Afraid of what I would see.Afraid of what I had done.Afraid that when I opened them, I wouldn’t be me again.For a moment, I just lay there, breathing slowly, carefully, like even that might trigger something.Nothing happened.No voice.No pressure.No presence pushing against my thoughts.Just silence.And somehow… that scared me more.“Anna.”Sam’s voice.Low. Careful.Close.I opened my eyes.The ceiling came into view first, cracked and uneven, just like before.Then I turned my head slightly.He was there.Watching me.Not relaxed.Not relieved.Just… watching.Like he was waiting for something.For me to change.For me to lose control again.That hurt more than the pain in my body.“I’m awake,” I said softly.My voice sounded like mine.That alone made my chest tighten.“Yeah,” he replied.
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