Chapter 59

• The soft beeping sound of the machine beside her bed slowly pulled Cynthia out of her deep sleep. Her eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, everything looked blurry. All she could see was a white ceiling and bright hospital lights. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision. Slowly, things began to come into focus.
• She turned slightly, expecting to see someone sitting beside her. But the chair by her bed was empty. The room felt quiet, too quiet. There was no nurse or doctor in sight—no familiar face.
• She sat up carefully, a dull pain pressing against her forehead, but it wasn't as bad as before. The headache had gone down, and she could think more clearly now. She looked down at her arm. The IV drip had been removed, though a small piece of tape and a faint mark remained on her skin. She touched the spot gently and sighed.