The first rays of dawn had barely touched the horizon when the abrupt thud of Lila's knock sent me tumbling from the bed. My eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the dim light of the room. There, in the corner, were Remy and Lydia, their postures slumped, the very picture of exhaustion.
"Well Aaliyah, now that you're awake it's time for a morning workout," Lila announced with a cheerfulness that felt out of place in the sleepy silence.
I rubbed my eyes, disoriented. "What time is it?" I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else.
"It's 5 o'clock in the morning," Lila replied, her voice bubbling with an enthusiasm that I couldn't fathom at this ungodly hour.
