Chapter 172

OLIVIA’S POV It was happening again. My vision blurred at the edges, like someone had taken a wet brush and dragged it across the canvas of my sight. The ceiling above me wavered, rippling like water. I blinked hard, trying to focus. The fluorescent lights felt too bright, almost burning through my eyelids, and my limbs were heavy—too heavy. And then—darkness. I didn’t know how long I was out. Minutes? Hours? What did they give me? How can I sleep again? When I opened my eyes again, my throat was dry, and I was greeted by the sterile sting of antiseptic and the soft beeping of monitors nearby. The room was quiet, save for the shuffling of feet and the soft clink of metal instruments. A nurse stood by my side, adjusting the IV line attached to my arm. I turned my head slightly, wincing at the motion. “What… what is that?” I asked, my voice raspier than I remembered it being. The nurse flinched—just a little—but enough for me to notice. “Just your medication, dear,” she said in a tone th