~Aria's POV
At some point, the darkness outside the window softened. It wasn't night anymore, not morning either. That in-between grey that feels tired or worn out.
I stared at the ceiling, eyes burning, throat dry. My head throbbed faintly, a dull ache behind my eyes. I felt wrung out. I felt empty and overfilled at the same time.
When light finally crept fully into the room, I didn't feel relief. I felt exposed.
I sat up slowly, joints stiff, body aching like I'd run a marathon instead of lying in bed all night. My reflection in the mirror across the room caught my attention, and I winced.
My face looked swollen. Puffy eyes, dark shadows underneath. Skin dull and tight. I looked like someone who hadn't slept in days. Like someone who had been crying quietly in the dark and pretending she was fine.
I pressed my fingers under my eyes, then let my hands fall into my lap.
"Great," I muttered. "Just perfect."
