Thud…

As my hearing returned, I could hear them running.

The relentless thuds outside grew louder. It's creating a sharp contrast with the calmness inside my room as I struggled to catch my breath.

Huff...

"S…sis, are you alright?" 

Vivian's voice pierced through the haze of thoughts in my mind.

My vision is still blurred. It took me some time to focus on what's in front of me. Four of them are here, their expressions a mix of tears, confusion, and concern. Their faces bring me a strange sense of calm.

"Nothing happened. Just a nightmare," 

I finally managed to utter a word and tried to dismiss the lingering terror from my dream.

"But you have nightmares almost every day.”

However, Mom's voice cut through the air, sending a chill down my spine.

The sound of her voice, so familiar yet unsettling after that torture, made the line between the dream and reality blur for me.

My throat became dry, words caught in my chest, and a tremor ran through me.

Instinctively, I reached for my neck, and as my breath grew heavier, I started to remember the horror of my dream..

A sudden touch on my forehead jolted me back to reality. A warm hand gently stroked my head.

As I looked up, I met Vivian's gaze. Her eyes, which always ask many unspoken questions, were now filled with deep concern.

A sigh of relief escaped me. "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Vivian's voice held a hint of worry.

"It's nothing," I reassured her before turning to Mom.

"It's nothing new. It's been years already. The youngest still aren't used to seeing me like this." 

When I looked at Aria and Yuriya, they looked like they would cry any minute.

"If you say so, go back to sleep," Mom replied.

"Why?"

I became confused about what Mom said. 

"What do you mean, why? You only slept for half an hour. You still need another hour and a half of rest."

Her words caused my mind to freeze momentarily. The dream hasn't finished. The thought of returning to that haunting dream weighed heavily on my mind.

"Absolutely no excuses this time. You were barely awake last time because you hadn't slept," Mom strictly scolded me.

"Don't worry, Mom. I wasn't thinking that," I replied to her while mustering a smile.

I turned my head and questioned, "But who was in my room?”

"Oh, it's me. Yuriya forgot her toys in your room, so I came to get them and found you like this," Zain explained.

My gaze shifted to Zain. His eyes evaded mine because he was lying. 

He came here for me.

And the weight of his concern settled heavily on my shoulders. "Did it startle you?”

Zain remained silent, his answer obvious in his silence. I offered him a reassuring smile. "I'm okay.”

Zain looked at me and tried to say something. However, Mom's voice interrupted him: "Kids, let's go outside. Let your sister sleep.”

The four of them nodded simultaneously, but two pairs of eyes remained fixed on me, full of concern.

Mom reached for the door to close it, but she hesitated a bit.

She is gathering her thoughts.

After a brief moment of silence, she finally began to speak..

"You know, you can talk to me. You always stay silent about those dreams of yours."

"You've tried a few things before, but nothing has changed. And I'm used to it now." 

I responded to her in a stern tone to mask the weight of my words.

"But..."

"We already have other things to worry about. It's okay, I'm fine."

Silence covered us for a moment as Mom looked into my eyes. Without another word, she closed the door behind her afterwards.

I'm afraid that she might see through the facade I have always presented. If she did, how would I react?

I felt a bitter urge to mock myself, but instead, tears began to fall. 

“Ha.Ha”

Sniff…

I curled up on my side, tears tracing a path down my cheeks. I knew the darkness of my dreams was waiting for me. Its grip tightened as soon as I closed my eyes.

The darkness bound me, and it once again took the shape of my mom. It tightened and relaxed its grip on my throat, as if it were teasing my existence. Each breath felt like a struggle now.

Every time, I thought this might be my last breath. 

I can't count how many times I thought that.

Yet, the darkness refused to grant me that wish.

Mom told me to open up and talk to her, revealing my dream to her; yet, she was also a part of the tangled roots of my nightmares.

A terrifying seed she unknowingly planted here.

I stopped thinking of anything and yearned for the dream to fade away.

When I awoke, it was almost evening. An hour and a half had slipped by, but in my dreams, it felt like an eternity.

Haah...

With a heavy sigh, I rose from the bed. I need to complete my homework, spend time with my siblings, and wait for the next uncertain dream.