VALERIE
My brain felt muddled and groggy while my mouth was dry. Slowly, I fluttered my eyes open and the room came into focus. A familiar one. But my body was too heavy to move, a distant echo of pain lingering in my muscles.
Slowly, my vision cleared.
His face was the only thing I could see, the only thing I could perceive before the subconsciousness was pulling me back.
“Caleb?” I managed to croak out and immediately he turned.
In a heartbeat, he was by my side, that large hand was bracketing my face with all the warmth that I ever needed. Immediately, I was pulled into his touch.
“You are awake,” he breathed, a small, hopeful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
I tried to push myself up but failed. Instantaneously, Caleb lent me his strength and helped me sit up. “Fat
