Lena

The insane quiet around me was wrong.

It felt like the peace before a storm.

I lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling above my bed, counting my breaths the way the healer had taught me. In through my nose and out through my mouth.

Slow enough to keep the pain from flaring and hopefully slow enough to keep my thoughts from wandering where they didn’t belong.

I hated every one here with my guts, but as the hours go by I have to accept that they're my best chance of ...