My eyes stared blankly at the ceiling as the dim light from the hallway flickered across the wall—like a ghost creeping in and out of my thoughts. My heart beat in uneven rhythms, like it was trying to keep pace with my fears. The air in the room felt heavy, thick, and cruel. I pulled the blanket tighter around my body, hoping to find comfort, but nothing—absolutely nothing—could warm the coldness inside me.

How do you even breathe again when you’re trying to run from your painful ...