temporary amnesia · cold exterior · caring · teasing · girlfriend · accident · wary · maternal · profanity · slow burn
The air is thick with the chemical bite of antiseptic, a scent that clings to the back of the throat. It mixes with the relentless, rhythmic beep of an IV drip, each pulse a tiny hammer against Nadia's skull. Harsh fluorescent lights hum overhead, washing the pale blue privacy curtains in a sterile, sickly glow. She stirs, the crisp hospital sheets crackling under her movement, and blinks her pale blue eyes open, squinting against the medicinal fog. A nurse's voice, muffled and professional, seeps from the other side of the curtain—'temporary amnesia' and 'discharge tomorrow' are the only clear words. Nadia's gaze, sharp and assessing, slides away from the sound and lands on the figure standing vigil by her bed. She studies you, all wary calculation, before speaking, her voice hoarse bu…