Ever since the last time Sophia had seen Aneira, peace had become a stranger to her.
The nightmares came almost every night now, twisting, cruel visions that left her gasping, sweating, breathless, and furious. In those dreams, Ethan always walked away, hand-in-hand with Aneira. And Aneira would always turn back with that wicked, slow smile like she was taunting her. Like she had won. If was as if Aneira had come back to collect what was rightfully hers or Ethan regretting that he left Aneira, so he willingly followed her.
Sophia would jolt awake, her heart pounding and tears prickling her eyes. Her chest rising and falling in tight little pants as she looked around the dark room, disoriented and scared.
But it wasn't just the fear of losing Ethan. It was something deeper. Something uglier.
It was the fear that maybe, in some distant corner of his heart, Ethan still held onto a part of Aneira. Even now. Even after everything.
And today had been no different.
