This was the first time in forever that I actually managed to get some real rest. The talk with my father made me feel much more confident, while the night with Valerie helped me loosen up. Having her in my arms made it easy for my troubles to go away, so I held her as tight as I could. The thought that we were prepared and everything would be alright calmed me down immensely. But as I should have known, it was merely an illusion.
I was woken up around 4:35 in the morning to the sound of an alarm. It took my tired mind some time to understand where the loud noise was coming from, but when I did, I immediately jolted awake. Valerie was a heavy sleeper and only opened her eyes due to my sudden movement. She was confused by how agitated I was, but as soon as she heard the sirens, her eyes wi
