*Eliza*

I opened my eyes and it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Sitting up, I pounded on my chest, heaving and hyperventilating. My stomach twisted and tears stung my eyes. In my chest, my heart trembled and I felt like it would shatter into a million pieces.

This was what it felt like to be rejected….

“Eliza….” My mother’s voice came from the side of the bed. I looked over to see her offering me a cup of water to drink.

I gulped it down and looked ...