Luke's smile dimmed, and he leaned in, his eyes scanning the crowd. "You don't forget what that kind of pain does to you. But the pod… it gave me back my life. Not just my skin."
As he rolled up his sleeve, the crowd gasped at the sight of unblemished flesh. "This used to be bone and scar tissue down to the elbow. Now I can hold my girlfriend's hand without her flinching."
A wave of awe rippled through the audience. Some reporters lowered their recording devices, momentarily lost in the gravity of his revelation.
"How long were you submerged?" asked a young journalist, her voice trembling with curiosity.
"Six days," Luke replied, a grin breaking across his face. "I woke up hungry enough to eat a horse! They had me on nutrient IVs, but..." He chuckled. "The first thing I did was demand a cheeseburger."
Laughter erupted, shattering the tension in the room. Even Professor Henry couldn't help but smile a little.