Awake

ZIRA

I was so cold it hurt, and I could do nothing. Just lie here, floating in nothingness. Again. I thought this was another dream but returned to the dark when I closed my eyes, just like before. The only difference this time around was Nina. She lay right by my side, so I wasn’t alone. At least if I was dead, I was with her. I knew she tried her best and only wished I could be as strong as her.

I could feel myself shaking. My body lay flat on the floor. So, I couldn’t wrap my arms around my legs to warm myself up. The cold never left me. It only seemed to get worse. Until I felt the warmth of someone’s touch spread throughout my body. Was someone holding me? Was I alive?

“Did you feel that?” I asked, opening my eyes and finding Nina nowhere to be seen. “Nina? Nina, where are you?”

Panic started to creep into my mind again. My breathing became ragged, and I felt like I was going under. Though I wasn’t sure if I could go further than this. I was still stuck on the floor as if some