bChapter /bb187 /b

bAurora’s /bP.O.V

bI /bopened my eyes, gasping for air, but all I could feel was the pressure in my chestb, /bbthe /bbburning /bsensation in my lungs as the water surrounded me. I tried to il my arms, desperate bto /bbpush /bbmyself /bupb, /bbut it was like the water was pulling me deeper. Panic surged through me. I can’t bbreathe/bb, /bbI /bbcan’t /bbreathe, my mind screamed, the darkness creeping in at the edges bof /bmy vision. I didn’t bknow /bbwhere /bI was, or if anyone could hear me, or if anyone would find me in time.

I could barely make sense of anything, but just as I thought I was about to slip under for goodb, /bI felt something–a hand, warm and firm, grabbing mine. Who…? Before bI /bcould make sense of it, I was being yanked up, and the water rushed off of my face as my head broke the surface. My body was pulled upward, and with a sharp inhale, I was suddenly hoisted onto the side of the pool. bI /bcoughedb, /bsputtering, my body shaking as I tried to steady myself, gasping for air like it was the bfirst /btime I’d

ever had it.

“Hey, hey, it’s alright,” a voice murmured, and I blinked, struggling to focusb. /bCalebb. /bIt was Calebb, /b

kneeling beside me, his hands steady on my shoulders as he helped me sit up. His eyes were wide, filled with panic and fear that he was trying to keep at bay; but his voice was calmb, /breassuring.

“You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

I swallowed hard, trying to catch my breath, my head spinning. “I–I thought I was going to drown,” I whispered, still shaking, feeling the cold of the pool water seeping into my skin.

Caleb let out a soft breath, as if he had been holding it too. “You almost did. But you’re not going anywhere.” His hand was still on my back, guiding me, grounding me.

“You’re safe now.”

I looked up at him, still trying to process what just happened. “I don’t even know how I ended up there…” My voice trailed off, not sure if I wanted to know. “I–I was in my room…sleeping…I-”

“Doesn’t matter,” Caleb said, his voice gentle but firm. “You’re out now, and that’s what counts. Breathe, just try and rx. The rest wille to you.”

I nodded, the fear starting to fade as I let him help me get my bearings, realizing just how close bI /bhade to losing everything. I wasn’t sure if bI /bcould ever be okay after that, but right then, in moment, Caleb was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

I sat up, trying to clear the fog from my mind, my gazending on Caleb. He’s watching bme /bbwith /bconcern, but the confusion in his eyes matches my own. I open my mouthb, /btrying to speak, bbut /bnothinges out at first. Finally, I ask.

bat /b

bChapter /bb187 /b

“bCaleb/bb… /bbWhat /bhappenedb? /bHow did I end up by the bpool/bb?/b”

bHe /btilted bhis /bheadb, /blooking equally perplexed. “I was about to ask you the bsame /bbthing/bb. /bHe shook his bhead /bas if trying to shake off his own confusion.

I blinked, slowly taking in my surroundings. The pool area was quiet, too quietb, /bband /bthe air bfelt /bstrange. I tried to stand but felt the weight of everything hitting me at once. My legs were bunsteady/bb, /band I grip the edge bof /bthe pool for support. That’s when it hit me. I froze.

“I… I was sleepwalking again,” I murmured, more to myself than to him.

Caleb’s expression shifts, concern turning to something deeper. “Another dreamb?/bb” /bhe asks, his voice soft but urgent.

I nodded, slowly. “Yes… but this time, it was different. I saw… my parents‘ old room. All of bmy /bmother’s things were there. Everything was just… left behind. It was like she never left at all.” I felt ba /bshiver run down my spine as I recalled the dream, the way everything had seemed so vividb, /bbso /bbreal/bb. /b

bChapter /bbComments /b

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