ARIA POINT OF VIEW

The darkness felt different that night.

It pressed against my chest like something alive, like the walls themselves were leaning in closer, waiting for me to finally give in. I lay curled on the cold stone, my cheek against the floor, too tired to shift, too drained to care how uncomfortable it was.

Everything hurts.

Not in sharp bursts anymore, but in a deep, constant ache that had settled into my bones. The work, the blows, the endless commands… it had all blended ...