Chapter 77 New Eyes

• My eyes snap open to brightness, confusion clouding my mind as reality slowly filters in. Sunlight streams through gaps in the curtains, painting golden stripes across the bed. For a moment, I’m disoriented—the quality of light is wrong, too bright, too warm. Then understanding hits: I must have fallen asleep after he left for his shower, hours ago now.
• I push myself up, my body protesting each movement as if I’ve been drugged. Despite the hours of unconsciousness, exhaustion clings to me. My head throbs dully, and my eyelids stick with each blink, gritty and uncomfortable. Everything feels slightly off-kilter, like I’m moving through water.
• Well, at least I finally got some sleep.