Josie
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was how wrong everything felt. My body moved, but it didn't feel like my body at all—it was lighter, floating almost, like I wasn't tethered to the ground anymore. Around me, there was nothing but light. Blinding, searing, endless light. It was so bright that when I blinked, I couldn't see shapes, shadows, or even my own hands. For a horrifying second, panic clawed at my chest.
"Am I going blind?" I whispered into the void. My voice echoed back at me, hollow and trembling.
The brightness seemed to pulse in answer, until a soft, melodic voice broke through it. A woman's voice—calm, steady, and so clear that it made the panic inside me stutter to a stop.
"Child," the voice said.
