ARIA'S POV

I woke up groggy. Like I'd been dragged through a field of bricks and grief, with a dash of pharmaceutical aftertaste still coating my tongue.

But weirdly... refreshed?

Gross.

After lying in bed for ten minutes debating whether or not to breathe today, I finally dragged myself to the bathroom. I showered, got dressed, brushed my hair until it stopped looking like a grieving bird’s nest.

I even wore actual clothes...not a robe or hoodie or the soft guilt of ...