Strange voices filled her ears until Howard's face swam into view. He touched her forehead. "Shay, how are you feeling?"
Ashley Bowen slowly opened her eyes. She glanced at him but didn't say a word.
"The patient just woke up," a doctor advised from the side. "Give her a moment to adjust."
Ashley Bowen paid them no mind, her gaze sweeping around the room instead.
Stark white walls.
The heavy scent of antiseptic filled her nostrils—a smell she despised. It reeked of death.
"If you feel a little better, you should go see him. He's waiting for you."
Howard knelt beside her, speaking softly.
She turned her head, her eyes falling on the IV drip in her hand. Suddenly, she reached out to pull it out.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" a startled nurse exclaimed.
After a long moment, Ashley Bowen finally spoke. "What's the date today? How many days has he been gone?"
"Seven days. Today is the last day. He's waiting for you. If you don't go, you might never see him again..."
