Chapter 357

So, it was all just in my head. Even my dad's voice—it was nothing more than an illusion.

They'd been gone for ten years. How could I have possibly heard them?

I stood there, feeling completely lost. The last rays of light disappeared, and the room was swallowed by darkness. The weight of losing them—of never seeing them again—hit me hard, and the tears finally came, unstoppable.

That night, I barely slept. My dreams were filled with flashes of my mom and dad, haunting and bittersweet.

When I woke up, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. My body was heavy, aching, like I'd spent the night doing hard labor. I tried to drag myself out of bed but couldn't manage it.

That's when it hit me—I was sick. I touched my forehead. Warm. Fever, probably.

"Kiki, you up?" Hayden's voice came from outside the door.

I opened my mouth to answer, but all that came out was a raspy whisper. My throat felt like I'd swallowed glass.

I grabbed my phone and typed out a message: [I'm sick. You can come