In the days that followed her awakening, Chloe's sense of time and reality remained blurred. Fragments of her dream world lingered, intertwining with the harsh fluorescent lights and antiseptic smell of the hospital room. Her mother, Agatha, visited regularly, offering comfort and support, but Chloe's desire for clarity grew stronger each day.
One afternoon, when the sunlight painted a warm glow across Chloe's hospital bed, she mustered the courage to broach the subject that had been haunting her thoughts.
"Mom," Chloe began tentatively, her gaze fixed on the bouquet of flowers sitting on the bedside table, "I need to understand what happened. How did I end up in a coma? And why do I feel like I've lived a lifetime in my dreams?"
Agatha sighed, a mix of sadness and relief in her eyes. "Sweetheart, it's a long story, and I've been waiting for the right time to share it with you."
