The heavy blankets pinned me to the bed, and the air in the room was thick as if the walls were pressing in.
Each passing day felt like a chapter being ripped out of a book I couldn't stop reading. My body weakened under the strain of the poison, my mind trapped between fading memories and the nightmares that seemed to grow sharper with every restless night. The lines between dream and reality blurred; I often woke wondering which world I truly belonged to.
The first morning after Damian left felt unbearable.
The sun shone weakly through the frost-covered windows, but its light brought no warmth. I sat up slowly, every movement was a reminder of my failing body. The castle seemed unnaturally quiet, the corridors devoid of life despite the presence of guards, servants, and courtiers. Without Damian's steady presence, even the smallest tasks felt like an insurmountable burden.
