My eyes fluttered open to the harsh fluorescent lights of a hospital room. The smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils as I tried to focus on my surroundings.
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake!" Cassandra's voice broke through the confusion in my mind. She was right by my bedside, her expression showing genuine concern like a caring sister. "I was so worried about you."
A nurse was checking my vitals, and I had to blink several times, in order to clear my vision.
"Are you feeling alright, dear?" Cassandra continued, her voice dripping with fake concern. "I tried everything to get that door open, but it was completely jammed. I had to run around looking for a handyman, and by the time I found someone and came back, you'd already been taken away."
I stared at her, barely able to hide my disgust. I knew exactly what she was doing, trying to keep me from our mother while covering her own tracks. The lies rolled off her tongue so easily.
