Author's pov:

The next day, when Arav finally blinked awake, a sharp jolt of pain shot through him, making him wince before he could fully register where he was. His muscles felt like they had been stretched, pulled, and wrung out like wet cloth. Even breathing made his ribs ache. He lay still for a moment, staring at the faint rays of morning light creeping through the half-closed curtains, until the weight pressed against his side reminded him he wasn’t alone.