Everything hurt. Her body felt heavy—too heavy. It was like walking through a dark, endless tunnel, the weight of each step pulling her down. She wanted to stop, but something inside her pushed her forward. A flicker of light in the distance. She could barely see it, but it was enough to keep her moving.
She was so thirsty. So dry. Her throat burned, desperate for water.
Water. She had to get to the light. It was her only hope.
Time didn't exist in that tunnel. She didn't know how long she'd been walking—hours, days, maybe longer. Every second felt like an eternity, but she kept going. The light was closer now. She could feel it.
And then—blinding white light.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
She jolted awake with a gasp, disoriented. The soft beeping of a machine was the first thing she noticed. It pierced the air, constant and unrelenting.
Where was she?
Her eyes adjusted slowly to the dim, sterile room. Her body felt numb, trapped in a state between sleep and wakefulness. She tried to move, but it was like her limbs were lead. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on her, but something else lingered—fear.
Where was she? What had happened?
Her parched lips cracked as she whispered, "Water…" The sound was barely audible, a desperate rasp.
No one was there. The room was silent, except for the steady beeping of the machine. She tried to lift her head, but it felt too heavy. Panic began to set in.
She struggled again, her head shifting slowly to the side. Her eyes locked on a nurse standing by the door, wide-eyed in surprise.
The nurse rushed forward. "You're awake," she said, her voice thick with worry.
"Water," she croaked again, pleading.
The nurse froze, blinking as if unsure whether she'd heard right. Then, she nodded. "Just a moment, Miss. I'll get the doctor."
The nurse turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.
The woman's eyes fluttered, heavy with fatigue, but she refused to give in. What had happened to her? Why couldn't she remember anything?
Minutes later, the door swung open again. A middle-aged doctor entered with a team of younger doctors trailing behind him. He approached her with a calm, measured expression. "Hello," he said.
"My name is Dr. Harris. How are you feeling?"
Her voice cracked again as she whispered, "Water."
The nurse returned, holding a paper cup with a straw. She gently placed it in the woman's hand, and she tried to suck from the straw. At first, nothing happened—her muscles were too weak to move. But after several tries, a trickle of water made its way into her mouth.
It was like a miracle. The cool water soothed her dry throat, and she let out a soft sigh of relief.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, not understanding why something as simple as water could make her feel so emotional.
"Do you know your name?" Dr. Harris asked gently, his eyes studying her carefully.
"My name…" She opened her mouth, but her mind was a storm. Memories rushed in—none of them familiar. In the confusion, a strange thought crossed her mind. Where is my blonde hair?
She glanced down at the pillow beneath her head. Black hair. She couldn't have—why was her hair black?
Her breath quickened, and her pulse raced. Something's wrong.
Her heart began to pound, the beeping from the machine speeding up in sync with her panic. The nurse looked up in alarm, and the doctor's eyes widened in concern. "Take a deep breath," he instructed, but she couldn't. Her mind was swirling.
"I need a mirror," she demanded, her voice trembling.
The doctor hesitated, looking to the nurse for confirmation. After a brief moment, the nurse nodded and went to fetch a mirror.
When she saw her reflection, the shock hit her like a wave. The face staring back at her was a stranger's—dark brown eyes, straight black hair, a face she didn't recognize. Her heart stopped.This isn't me. This isn't my body.
Her pulse raced out of control, and the machine's beeping became frantic. The nurse quickly took the mirror away, but it was too late. She was trapped—inside someone else's life.
Her mind spiraled, but she could only whisper, "No. This can't be real."
The doctors exchanged worried glances, but she didn't hear them. She was lost. Her body felt like a prison, and her mind was racing in every direction.
How? Why?
She closed her eyes, unable to process it all. The darkness welcomed her again, and this time, she didn't fight it.