Abruptly, I snapped awake, the harsh reality of my bedroom replacing the spectral mansion. Gasping for breath, I sat upright in bed, the remnants of the dream still lingering in my mind. The echo of my mother's words resonated, a haunting reminder of the unresolved pain and secrets that lingered in the recesses of my subconscious.
"Oh, it was a dream," I muttered, my voice barely audible in the silence of the night. The relief that flooded over me was accompanied by the disorienting sensation of waking from a vivid nightmare. Sweat dripped off my body, and I ran a trembling hand through my tangled hair, grounding myself in the familiarity of my surroundings.
