Unexpected Protector

Cleo

Pain is the very first sensation that registers in my foggy mind. It is not a dull, distant ache, but a sharp, agonizing fire radiating directly from the center of my chest. My crushed ribs scream in fierce protest with every shallow breath I attempt to draw. The scent of harsh chemical antiseptics burns my nostrils, masking the familiar, comforting smell of damp earth and pine needles that