JAMES
“-A
mes!
James
! Wake up!” Jerking up to sit, I sucked a sharp, ragged inhale as Caroline’s concerned face filled my vision. Her firm hands cupped my cheeks, and I bit down hard on my inner cheek as my teeth chattered wildly. Gasping for air, I blinked hard as the vestige of my nightmare clung to the darkness at the edge of my vision. “You’re okay… deep breaths. It was just a nightmare, James.”
Licking my dry, cracked lips did nothing to moisten them, and I wrapped my palm around my neck to feel my burning throat. Sweat slickened my skin, and Caroline cooed and shushed softly as she held my face with her gentle touch. Her words didn’t really breach the fog in my mind for a few seconds, and I shook my head hard as I tried to calm my racing heart.
“It was real- Caroline, I-“ Taki
