Chapter .54.

It takes one moment to hate who you are, and a lifetime to remember how to love yourself again. This is the most important war. -Erin Van Vuren *** A shadow stands over me. Darkness clings to his face, obscuring the features of him from my sight, but his voice tells me who it is. Grandjay whispers to the room, not knowing that I am awake. I am awake and listening to him as he stands over my damaged body. "Soraya. Soraya. Wake up. Soraya." He waits. I can see the debate in his limbs as a stiffness comes over the air. Instincts telling me he is deciding if he can touch me to make me open my eyes. I know I would be able to handle the pain if he does. So I speak. "Grandjay." My voice is rough. It scrapes against my throat, raw and low, dragged out against my will from the reluctance of opening my eyes to cast away the darkness.