The following morning, a thin sliver of golden sunlight pierced through the gap in Nina's faded curtains, landing directly across her face. She stirred, blinking against the brightness, then rolled over and threw her arms above her head. Every muscle in her back elongated as she stretched wildly, like a lazy cat basking on a warm ledge.
A massive, unprompted smile broke wide across her face, stretching from ear to ear before she could even consciously register why she felt so incredibly happy.
She sat up, swung her legs over the side of the mattress, and laughed aloud at the quiet, empty room. "Rise and shine, horrible world!"
She paused, pressing her palms against her cheeks, which felt strangely warm. The sensation startled her… when was the last time she'd woken up with this kind of energy? Her body should have been protesting, demanding another three hours of sleep at minimum.
