Chapter 13

• Victoria woke up somewhat disoriented. The effects on her body certainly reflected the excesses of alcohol consumed during dinner the night before.
• Her head was heavy, and she felt a pain behind her eyes that extended to her neck. She ran her hand over her sore neck, trying to gently open her eyes, which felt as heavy as sandbags. All memories of the previous night seemed blurred in her mind, and for a moment, it was difficult to remember where she was. She looked confusedly at the tall beige walls, the ceiling illuminated by a beautiful chandelier, the windows with pastel-colored blinds, and the deep red carpet like blood. As the information was absorbed by her disoriented memory, she gradually remembered random flashes.
• The most intense memory she could recall was the sudden sensation of heat invading her abruptly, as if a fire had been lit inside her, spreading to every part of her body, much like fire would spread through a house, exposing its rooms to deterioration. That's how she felt—deteriorated, defeated as if she had lost a battle with herself. And, in a way, she was right.