Zara was awake, and she knew it. All her senses were returning, she was free of the pain and she could think
"Zara? Zara honey? Are you awake?"
She tried to answer but she could make no noise.
"Zara? Please, baby, blink."
She blinked
"Zara? Zara! Oh Zara...."
Was Zara her? She wondered.
Memories came flooding back
Yes, that was her.
She wondered why her mother sounded so relieved.
She tried to blink again but a drug was taking over...
She was gone.
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Zara was awake again, and she could move her fingers. This time she took her time to look at her surroundings
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She was lying on her back, facing a clean white ceiling.
Zara realized in surprise she could not move, but it caused no anger.
Even her emotions were numbed.
All she could see wa-
"Zara Fletching, you are awake. Your father is coming to see you."
How dare they interrupt her thinking!
Anger flared, but died down
She had no energy
"Zara, you have been in a coma for nine months. We are letting you wake for five minutes every hour. Gradually we will let you have control of more of your body."
They controlled her
She had no free will
She tried to shout in outrage
She couldn't
"Zara, stop it"
Anger tears slipped down her cheeks
What was wrong with her?
She wanted to rewind the clock
She wanted to be normal again...
She wanted to be an innocent little six-year-old again....
And so Zara Fletching pulled herself back into the numb and calm shelter of her mind