The water roared around her, consuming her completely. Her body spiraled uncontrollably in the vortex, and with each twist and pull, her chest tightened, her lungs burned, and her mind spiraled into a chaos even more violent than the currents dragging her down.
'This is it, isn't it?'
The thought cut through the cacophony of her surroundings, sharp and venomous. Her limbs felt heavy, her strength ebbing with each passing second as her body surrendered to the crushing pressure. But the pain—the searing, unrelenting pain—remained, a constant reminder of everything she despised.
'Why? Why was I even born like this? Broken, sick, useless.'
Aeliana's vision blurred further, the salt of the water stinging her eyes. Her thoughts churned like the whirlpool itself, a storm of resentment and self-loathing tearing through her mind.
