"Hey."
A hand landed firmly on my shoulder, jolting me from unconsciousness. My eyes snapped open as my head lifted, neck protesting the awkward angle I'd been slumped in against the reception desk.
Maribel stood above me, her expression caught somewhere between concern and complete bewilderment.
"Did you just take a nap?" Her voice carried pure incredulity, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was witnessing. "Right here? Right now?"
"Huh... I don't know," I mumbled, my voice thick and sluggish with residual sleep.
But even as I spoke, the evidence was undeniable. I could feel the embarrassing trail of drool that had escaped from the corner of my mouth, now drying uncomfortably on my chin. My eyes felt gritty and heavy, weighted down by exhaustion that hadn't been satisfied by whatever brief unconsciousness I'd managed to steal. My entire body still screamed with fatigue, every muscle aching as I remained slouched against the wooden desk at my back.
