A dream

Denera

“Denera,”

I turned my neck toward the sound of the voice, a distant whisper that felt both familiar and foreign. “Denera, wake up.”

My eyes snapped open, responding instinctively to the urgency in her tone.

“We’re almost there,” a feline-faced woman said, her excitement contagious. I could hear it in her voice, but her features remained a blur, like a painting seen through foggy glass.

“I’m sure you’ll love it there; my people are very nice,” she added, her enthusiasm infectious. I nodded, my small legs dangling over the edge of the seat, eager to look out the window and see if we had arrived at our destination yet.

“We’re not there yet, honey,” an overly familiar masculine voice called from the driver’s seat.

My heart raced as I turned, my eyes widening as the face came into focus. “Dad,” I breathed, recognition flooding through me like sunlight breaking through clouds.

“I know, I’m just really excited. It’s been so long. If not for Claire, we probably wouldn’t have had a rea