Aria’s POV
I didn’t realize it was a dream until minutes later until the sharp edges of the memory pressed into my mind and I understood how real it had felt, how heavy my chest was, how my hands still shook like the fear had followed me into the waking world.
“Wake up… wake up…” I screamed, my small hands pressing against a man who didn’t move. I shook him again and again, my tears soaking his shirt, my knees digging into the floor, my whole body trembling so hard I thought I might break apart. The smell of smoke and wet earth filled the air. Then the gunshots started close, fast, splitting the silence and I ducked behind a rusted barrel, shaking, trying not to breathe, waiting for the world to stop falling apart around me.
I woke up screaming. My shirt was damp with sweat, my hair cli
