Cold Awakening

The first sound Chiara heard was a weak rasp, like breath scraping against dry leaves.

She froze for a second, she thought she imagined it but then her father’s fingers twitched beneath the thin hospital sheet.

“Dad?” Her voice broke as she leaned forward, clutching his hand. “Dad… can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered, heavy and reluctant, as though waking from a nightmare that refused to loose