Kiara lay in her bed, the IV drip gently delivering fluids into her weakened body. The pain from her recent beating was starting to subside, and with it, the stress of the exhausting labor she had just endured. As the physical pain lessened, her mind began to process everything that had happened over the past few days.
Doctor Sarah, the kind and experienced obstetrician who had assisted her during her delivery and helped her off the streets, entered the room to check on her progress. Kiara looked up at her, her eyes still swollen from crying. The doctor's reassuring smile instantly put her at ease.
"How are you feeling today, Kiara?" Doctor Sarah asked gently, walking over to the bed and studying Kiara's chart.
"I'm doing better, thank you, doctor," Kiara replied with a weak smile. "The pain is not as intense as before, and the swelling in my face is slowly going down."
