Tessa's POV
"I'm sorry for everything, Tessa. I never meant to leave you all by yourself. Mommy's back." My mother beckoned to me, tears streaming down her cheeks as I watched her standing at the entrance in what looked like tattered clothing.
"Mom?" I stared at her, my instincts telling me this wasn't real. But why was I crying? Why did I feel this pull to move closer to her?
"Mom," I kept calling out as I closed the gap between us, tears welling up in my eyes as I reached for her hand—when suddenly my eyes snapped open, reality sinking in as I looked carefully around. Yeah, I was in my room. Back home.
I rubbed my forehead, trying to piece together what had happened before I got here, and in the heat of the moment, I sat up quickly in bed, my heart racing as the memories from last ni
