-Hope-
“Are you okay, Hope?” Lara asked.
We were having breakfast together, just her and me, but it was clear she had noticed the dark circles under my eyes and how frequently I zoned out.
“Of course,” I replied, trying to brush off her concern.
“Liar,” she retorted, a small smile tugging at her lips, and I couldn’t help but return it.
“Just... having some trouble sleeping.”
“Why?”
“Just... dreams,” I muttered.
“What kinds of dreams?” she inquired.
“The bad kind.”
“You mean nightmares?” she guessed.
I hesitated, uncertain if I could categorize them as nightmares. They felt too real, too unsettling to simply dismiss.
“I guess,” I admitted, feeling overwhelmed by the confusion they stirred within me.
“You guess?” Lara repeated, her eyes searching mine for answers.
I shrugged, a
