It was cold. Lying down in my mother's arms as people were running past us, fleeing for their lives.
Her warmth was comforting. But I still remember how it felt, when a shiver crawled up my spine as people fell before my eyes. I prayed it was all a dream. And that, this day never existed. Even so. Life has a way of hurting you, and still asking for your love and forgiveness.
Everything happened too fast. The scream felt closer and sharper than usual, as if they were still echoing around me. A man came out of nowhere and fired. My mother collapsed to her knees as blood splattered. Coloring the snow in a deep red, raining, pattern. She held my head tightly so I wouldn't hit the ground.
Then, she let go of me.
Clutching her leg in pain, pleading for me to leave. When I couldn't. Fear rooted me in place as I held my hands tightly to my chest.
Tears blurred my vision as I looked into her eyes. I don't want to leave her like this, I remember thinking.
Footsteps crushed through the snow behind us. They were catching up quickly. She glanced back at them once before shoving me away.
The pain in her eyes was cutting deep inside of my chest.
"It's okay," She said, her voice shaking. "No matter what happens, mommy will always be here." Her gesture was towards my heart. She knew what was bound to happen.
I stepped back, letting go of her.
I started to run.
My breath grew ragged as I looked back at her for the last time.
The world seemed to fracture in that instant, everything I was, everything I would be, splintering before my eyes. The only hope I hadn't known I was holding onto faded like a phoenix—burning out of my reach, even as it rose somewhere far beyond me.
Before I knew it.
A shoot rang out.
She fell forward into the snow, her body going still. Her breathing slowed to a stop.
Tears swelled in my eyes as I stumbled backward, refusing to believe what I had just seen.
"No—no! Please, you can't be gone! You promised!" My legs gave out as I dropped to my knees, reaching for her.
Then everything fell silent.
Darkness spilled across my vision, swallowing the world like black ink. A voice cut through the void, sharp and urgent.
"Shimaki? SHIMAKI! Wake up!"
I was jolted forward, tumbling off the bed and dragging my blanket with me. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs.
It was a dream? I rubbed my bleary eyes, heart still racing. I slowly stood up. Looking up into Mateo's face.
"Took you long enough to wake up." He said, rolling his eyes with a soft sigh as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets.
"Do you need something?" I muttered, pulling my blanket back onto the bed. "I was trying to get some rest."
"Yes. Mother Nora just set the breakfast table," he said with a faint smile, leaning against the stair railing. "Hurry up and come downstairs."
"Right. Give me a minute—I'll be down."
I turned toward the closet, gripping the door a little too tightly as I opened it and pulled out a white shirt.
"Fine," He said, already heading down the stairs. "But if you take too long, there might not be any chicken left." He chuckled softly before disappearing.
I froze, the dream still clinging to me.
"Why do I keep dreaming about the same thing?" I murmured, sliding the shirt on and letting it fall loosely over my frame.
When I was ready, I headed downstairs. Mother Nora stood at the table, carefully holding a glass tray of freshly cooked potatoes, her oven mitts protecting her hands from the heat.
"Good morning, Shimaki," she said warmly. A bright smile curved across her lips—brighter than usual. "How was your rest?"
"Well," I said, rubbing the back of my neck as I pulled out a chair and sat down, "it was… something."