Angela drifted into a hazy dream, a blend of familiar voices and shadows swirling together. She was back at her childhood home, the worn kitchen table gleaming under soft morning light. Across from her sat her father, his face softened by the years yet still stern, eyes glinting with a mixture of pride and expectation.
"You’re stronger than you think, Angela," he said, his tone both gentle and commanding. The words settled heavily in her heart, like a promise she wasn’t yet sure she could fulfill. "Don’t ever forget that."
But even as he spoke, his image began to blur. She felt herself slipping away from the kitchen, drawn toward an unknown place. The scene shifted, and Angela found herself in a vast, open field, her father’s words echoing in her ears. It was just her, standing alo
