Alyssa
The early morning sun, pale and hesitant, crept through Alyssa's bedroom window, painting long stripes across the floor.
She stirred, nestled in the familiar embrace of her mother's arms, the warmth a comforting cloak against the chill of the approaching day.
For a moment, she indulged in the cocoon of sleep, the weight of the previous day's events momentarily forgotten.
But then, the memories flooded back, a tide of anger and hurt washing over her.
The betrayal, the drama, the kiss – they all gnashed at her like teeth, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
She tried to go back to sleep as the plan was to wake up by 5am but after closing her eyes for a few minutes, she realized that sleep was an impossibility.
With a sigh, she quietly disentangled herself from her mother'
