I jolted awake so suddenly that my heart slammed violently against my ribs.
My hands flew to my chest instinctively, fingers pressing hard as if to make sure it was still there still beating.
My breath came fast and shallow, and for a moment I just sat there, staring into the dimness, trying to remember where I was.
I swallowed hard.
Then slowly, I lifted a trembling hand and wiped my face.
I was drenched in sweat.
My hair clung damply to my temples, my nightdress sticking uncomfortably to my skin. My entire body felt overheated and cold at the same time, as though I had been running for miles and yet frozen in place.
Seeing my mother.
Hearing her voice.
Standing before my father in a world that wasn't my own.
Portaling without even meaning to.
Something I had never even known existed.
It all crashed into me at once.
I closed my eyes briefly and exhaled through my nose.
My dreams weren't dreams anymore.
They were visions.
There was no denying it now.
