Just Out of Reach

Valentin’s POV

Pain was the first thing I felt.

A low, dull throb at first. Then sharper. More insistent. Like my body had finally remembered something it was desperate to forget.

I was awake.

Sort of.

I couldn’t open my eyes at first, but I knew I was awake. There was a weight in my limbs, something thick and heavy anchoring me to the bed, like I was being pulled down by invisible sandbags. My he