Echos is the mist

PROLOGUE I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, my heart pounding so violently I could hear it echo in my ears. The world around me blurred into a swirl of mist and shadows. The forest floor disappeared beneath my feet; I couldn’t feel the leaves brushing against my skin anymore. All I knew was the terror chasing me—an unseen voice that kept calling my name, each echo slicing through the night like a cold blade. The deeper I ran into the forest, the darker it became. Every rustle in the bushes ahead made my pulse quicken. And then, suddenly, I knew—I couldn’t escape. How do you run from something that lives inside you? Before I could answer, the world shattered. I jolted awake, my pillow drenched, my bedsheet soaked with sweat. My heart still thundered in my chest. What could this mean? Mom burst into the room, her face pale with worry—she must have heard my scream. “Mom,” I gasped, trembling, “I had the dream again.” She pulled me close, and I buried my head in her chest, tears streaming down my face. I was so tired—tired of this nightmare that refused to let me go. “What is wrong with me?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why do these nightmares keep haunting me? Please… tell me.” My mother looked at me, her eyes heavy with sorrow. Words seemed to fail her; only silence spoke between us. Finally, she reached for my hand and said softly, “I’m sorry, my child. I don’t have the answers… but I’m here. I’ll always be here. I’ll never let go of your hand.”