Raelynn lay in bed, her body feeling sluggish and heavy. The thick comforter draped over her like a soft cocoon, but it did little to ease the discomfort that had settled deep in her bones. Moving around on her own had become increasingly difficult. The sheer effort of sitting up felt exhausting, so she remained in bed, staring blankly at the canopy of the bed, tracing the delicate patterns with her eyes.
The sound of the door bursting open startled her, pulling her from the dull haze of her thoughts. She turned her head, blinking in confusion as Sloane strolled in with a bright grin, holding up a wooden chessboard like it was some sort of treasure.
"Let's play chess!" Sloane announced, her voice brimming with excitement.
Raelynn just stared at her, her brows furrowing. "What?"
