"...aira.."

"...Venaira.."

...

Blinding. That's the first thing I thought. I squinted but all that came into view was a blinding light.

"...heaven?" I blurted out. Wait, what the hell? Why would I be in heaven when I haven't even done a great thing deserving of its gates?

After a few minutes, my eyesight became clear and the blinding light turned out to be a white ceiling. Who am I even joking about? This is embarrassing. I managed to sit upright with the support of the bed that I'm lying on.

My whole body suddenly ached and I saw multiple bruises on my body while my head was wrapped on a roller bandage. I scanned the room with my eyes and almost had a headache.

Why am I in the hospital? How did I end up like this, bruises and patched wounds all over?

Is what I thought before the door of the room suddenly opened where my stepmother appeared, busy with a phone call with a smile on her face. She wouldn't even notice that I'm already awake if not for my unexpected sneezing.

Her face was painted with panic for a second but she smiled sweetly and hurriedly ended her phone call. Her expression changed so fast that I would believe it if she told me that what I saw was an illusion. Was it distress that caused her to panic for a second?

"Venaira! I am so happy to see that you're okay! You got mommy really worried that I almost fainted after hearing the news!" She exclaimed while holding my right hand with utmost care. "Do you remember what happened? Anything?" She continued and looked at me.

Her question suddenly got me thinking. Knowing what happened for me to become in this state should be my first priority so I tried hard to recall yesterday's event. I tried really hard to think about activities I had done yesterday but nothing came to mind. It was as if there was a space in my memory that was purposely left empty.

"I don't recall anything at all. What exactly happened to me?"