"Ha hah…" The scream erupted from my throat as I bolted upright with so much speed like I had just had a nightmare, my body rigid as though it had been electrified. My chest rose and fell in rapid succession, and I clutched at the bed for stability. For a split second, I felt disoriented, my mind scrambling to catch up with my sudden awakening. A faint headache pulsed behind my temples, its dull ache reminding me of the exhaustion weighing on my body.
Moments earlier, I had been teetering on the edge of consciousness, the hazy veil of sleep still clinging to me. But now, I was fully awake. My mind began to process, albeit reluctantly, the fragments of imagery that had invaded my dreams. Reggie. His name alone made my heart flutter, and my stomach churned in equal measure. I could still fe
