I wake up slowly my body sore and tired. Every movement hurts, My throat aches first, a dull soreness that makes me swallow carefully... I guess Zane chocked my harder than I thought he did. My shoulders follow, then my back, then the faint sting in my palm where my skin still remembers the impact. I stare at the ceiling for a long moment, breathing shallow, taking inventory.
That has to be enough for now.
There's a knock on the door.
I close my eyes for a second groaning silently, then say, "Come in."
The door opens slowly. A woman steps inside, hovering just past the threshold like she's not sure how welcome she is. She's way younger than Margaret, maybe mid-twenties, hair pulled back neatly, hands folded in front of her apron. Her eyes flick to my face, then away again.
"I'm sorry to disturb you," she says. "I didn't want to come in unannounced, but I was told….."
She stops herself, straightens. "My name is Lora."
I nod once, my throat feels dry. "Elaine."
