Amari jolted awake, his body snapping upright as a cold sweat clung to his skin. His chest heaved, each breath ragged and uneven as his wide, panicked eyes darted around the dark room. For a moment, he didn't know where he was—the nightmare still clung to him like a heavy fog, the echoes of terror making his heart pound.
The faint outlines of the other boys sleeping in the room came into focus, and slowly, reality settled in. He exhaled shakily, running a trembling hand through his hair as he tried to calm himself down. It had just been a dream. It wasn't real. He repeated the words in his head, over and over, willing his heart to slow.
The sudden movement had stirred the others. One by one, they lifted their heads groggily, squinting at Amari in the dim light.
"You good?" Johnny mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep.
Amari hesitated, his voice rasping when he finally responded. "Yeah. I'm fine."
