The First Radiance

A rush of air from her sudden movement makes me shiver, and I slowly extend my left arm through the curtain, clenching and unclenching my fingers around a cold breeze. The moment I close my eyes, the painful memory of Nova's beaten, near-lifeless body comes tearing back from the deepest reserves of my memory.
The metallic stench of blood.
Darkness and complete confusion.
Fear.
Crushing uncertainty that's familiar to me, then and now-in every aspect of my life, it's never been avoidable. From the sleeping quarters and always wondering what's next to that chilling back alley where I was first attacked. In that moment, I had absolutely no idea what was coming for me and why. I fought without knowing what I was fighting for.