Chapter 17: Like Home 

Chapter 17: Like Home

Alena Fleur

I opened my eyes to the familiar black ceiling. My head was throbbing, so I tried to reach out my hand to massage my forehead, only to feel a weight on it.

I glanced down to find Elian holding onto my hand while he talked over the phone in whispers.

"—I don't want to take any risks, Dr. Hopkins. She is—" Elian paused when he realized I was awake. "I will call you later. She's awake." He put down his phone and brought his face to hover over me. "How do you feel right now, Alena?"

I tried to get up, and he helped me. "Get up slowly," he instructed.

When I was sitting up, I said, "I feel okay now."

"What happened? Did your blood pressure drop or something?" Elian inquired.

"I don't know. Did I faint in the gym?" I asked.

He nodded and asked, "Do you remember what happened?"

I tried to recall, but I just remembered walking away from Elian at the ab crunch machine. "I don't remember."

"Nothing at all?" I shook my head. "Nothing that woman said?"

"What wom