We Lied

"Cassy, can you hug me?" Hannah asked, standing at my door. I nodded. "Sure, come here," I said and opened my blanket. "Did you have a bad dream?" Hannah rushed into my open arms and hugged me tightly. "Yes," she replied, her voice muffled against my chest. "My mother left. I miss her hugs." Cassy held Hannah closer and stroked her hair. "I'm sorry, Hannah. I know how it feels to miss someone you love. But remember, your mother loves you, and she's watching over you from up there." Cassy pointed to the sky. Hannah looked up and wiped her tears. "Do you think she can see me from there?" she asked, her eyes wide. Cassy smiled. "Yes, I do. And she's proud of you for being so brave and strong." Hannah hugged Cassy tighter. "Thank you, Cassy. You're the best sister ever." Cassy hugged her back. "You're the best sister too, Hannah. We'll always be there for each other, no matter what." We don't have the same parents, though. My only memory of my mother is her locking me in the attic and watching her come home and leave with different men. "But, Cassy..." Hannah said, looking up at me. "Why did you take my place?" I looked at Hannah, and everything turned red. She was covered in blood, her face almost unrecognizable. I began shaking and sweating as I struggled to breathe. "Why are you running away, Cassy?" she asked. "You know you killed me, right? Cassy." Cassy... Cassy... "STOP!" I woke up gasping for air, my heart pounding against my chest. It took a few moments for my mind to register that I was in my bed, in my room. The nightmare had felt so real that I could still feel the cold sweat on my forehead and the shivers running down my spine. I sat up, trying to calm myself down. I took deep breaths, trying to steady my racing heart. As I looked around, the familiar surroundings of my room helped wash away the horror of the nightmare. "It was just a dream," I told myself. But the images of my past kept flashing in my mind. The memories of my mother's abuse and neglect, the pain of being alone and unloved, and the guilt of taking Hannah's place haunted me. Tears began rolling down my cheeks. I took a few more deep breaths and wiped away my tears. I knew that dwelling on the past would only bring me more pain, so I tried to focus on the present. I got out of bed and walked over to my window, looking out at the night sky. The moon was full, casting a soft glow over everything. I found comfort in its steady presence and the stillness of the night. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs. Damn. When will this hell end?