Shattered Reflections
The first thing Elara noticed when she woke up was the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. It was a rhythmic, soothing sound, a far cry from the cold, sterile environment of the hospital where she had last been conscious. The smell of salt and seaweed filled the air, carried by a gentle breeze that tickled her skin. For a moment, she thought she was dreaming, that she had finally slipped into the eternal darkness she had been teetering on the edge of. But the warmth of the sun on her face and the sensation of soft sheets beneath her told her otherwise.