Lyla

Three Days To Lyla's Birthday

Lyla POV:

I jolted awake, my chest heaving like I'd run a marathon. A thin layer of sweat clung to my forehead as I scanned the room, trying to remind myself where I was. My bedroom, my sanctuary, yet it felt so foreign for a moment. The aftertaste of the dream—no, the nightmare—lingered, making it hard to distinguish reality from the haunting images that had filled my mind.

Alana, who was busy studying at her desk, glanced up at me, worry etched into her features.

"Lyla, you okay? You look as if you've been through the wringer."

I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. How could I even begin to describe what I'd just experienced?

"You ever have a dream so...vivid that you could swear it was real?"

Alana placed her pen on the notebook, clearly sensing the urgency in my voice.

"No, not like you're describing. What happened? You're clearly shaken."

With a sigh, I realized I couldn't keep it bottled up any longer. The dream was too vivid, too real, and it