Amber
For the first time in a long while, I had something to look forward to. Every time Dr. Ichika walked through the door with her kind smile and warm presence, the gray walls of my world seemed to brighten, even if just a little. She brought food I could actually stomach—soft, flavorful meals that felt like the only good thing in my life right now.
More than that, she made me feel… safe. Every second she spent with me was like a barrier between me and the nightmares that constantly clawed at the edges of my mind. When she was around, I didn’t feel like I was falling apart. She made me feel strong, even if I didn’t deserve it.
But the nightmares didn’t care.
Every time I closed my eyes, I was dragged back into that hell. I saw distorted faces sneering down at me, their mouths twisted
