"Sara? What are you doing in the dark anyway?"- Said the owner of the voice. She came towards me with quick steps. I stood there like a frozen statue, unable to digest what was happening to me. As she got closer, I recognised her features, and it calmed my tense nerves.
"Chris ... Is that ... Oh, Chris...." - it felt like a weight of my worries had just vanished into thin air. When her calm eyes met my startled ones, I felt much better than before.
I sighed with relief - "Chris could see me. She's standing right in front of me. She's going to help me now.'
"Sara, why-why are you looking at me like that?"- she asked doubtfully. I smiled as waves of relief washed over me.
I ran up to her and hugged her tightly. I buried my head in her arms and let my tears flow out of my eyes. I hugged her tightly and planned to do the same for the next few hours if possible.
"Sara ... Hey ... What happened ... Buddy ... Are you okay?" she asked in a near whisper. For the first time, I felt the terror in her voice... Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"I am fine, Chris ... But I have a lot to tell you, Chris," I said, still hugging her.
"You are fine, are not you? Do you need some water? Anything, Sara? ... asshole, why is your heart hammering so fast? What is all this, Sara? Wait, okay...Take your time and tell me everything."- she advised and hugged me tighter.
A smile escaped my lips. That was the best thing about Chris. She was just so practical. She understood what I needed at the moment, so she acted in the most responsible and practical way.
For the next five minutes, we stood there in the same posture When I finally pulled back from the embrace. Immediately Chris went to turn on the light. As she turned it on, the room lit up in brightness. I closed my eyes for a second and inhaled deeply
'It's all right, Sara.'
"Sara ... What happened? What were you doing in the dark?"- Chris asked. Without adding to her tension, I explained everything to her. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of emotions... Disbelief, terror, surprise.
"Sara...you...hmm...I..."- Chris searched for appropriate words to describe what she was going through now.
"Chris, take it easy. I am alive and well"- I tried to comfort her.
"Yes, yes ... You are fine, by the grace of God. Yes, yes. But, how did this happen? How ... God... how do I even explain this to you, Sara ...?" I cut her off in the middle and spoke as I gently rubbed her shoulder.
"Dude, I know ... It's hard to believe. Things like this happen in books and these fantasy worlds ... Not in real life, I know. But not everything that happens to us is normal. There are parts you cannot digest at all. You understand my situation precisely because you know about all these things. I know, Chris. Just relax. We will think about it later. I just, uh... I think I need some sleep after all this," I told her, to which she nodded her head like a crazy person.
"Hey... Dude, just relax. Ok? And stop nodding your head like that," I scolded her, to which she smiled.
"Yeah... You need to sleep. Yes... I am going out. chores to do. No... I am staying with you, Sara. What if I go back..."
"No. You do not have to stay with me. Chris, I am serious. Just, oh come on..."- I said, grabbing her shoulder and pushing her lightly towards the door. She smiled nervously and asked.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."- I replied, though I doubted it.
"And just stay alert... because anything can happen from now on," I warned her before she left.
And I knew I was right. It was more dangerous than we thought. And we had to stay vigilant. I left the light on and slipped under my thick blanket. One deep breath and I knew I was sinking into sleep.
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