Emily woke groggy after Hellen gently shook her for dinner, her milky white frame heavy with fatigue—haemoglobin hovering near 8, sapping strength, leaving her dizzy and weak.
She swallowed a fistful of meds on a daily basis after dinner—toxin-flushing pills, hormone stabilizers, iron supplements—chased by a sharp daily injection in her arm that stung deep, nurses monitoring her liver and kidneys still reeling from Karimoike's grip.
Light dinner waited in the dining room again—steamed fish flaky with lemon, quinoa pilaf dotted cucumber and cherry tomatoes, mango lassi cool and thick—easy on her fragile system.
This time, Emily perched on Ivory's lap, loose raven waves cascading wild down her back, brushing Ivory's shoulder as she fiddled with her phone—fingers swiping a simple card game, matching suits quick, emerald eyes lighting with small wins.
