I saw her face, and the way she closed her eyes…
“I’m glad I met you. I had… no hope before you… no dreams… you gave me that… You set me free.”
I jolted upright, drenched in sweat, with the sheets clinging to my skin. The storm outside howled through the night. I stared at my hands, curled inward from clutching the sheets so tightly during the nightmare. I stretched them to restore circulation, then wiped my face. I knew I would be haunted by this—just not by her.
She said I had set her free, but that wasn’t what I meant. She was supposed to return to the North with me, to be safe… happy. Now she was dead. I let my head hang forward, taking deep breaths as I tried to steady myself.
She was supposed to be here…
I pushed the blanket aside and dressed hastily, pulling on some pants but n
