The first light of dawn barely touched the sky when Theo awoke, gasping for air. He sat upright, his entire body drenched in sweat, the thin blanket clinging to his skin. His heart thundered in his chest, and his hands trembled slightly as he wiped the dampness from his forehead.
A dream—or a nightmare—had pulled him from sleep, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall a single detail. Only a hollow, unshakable dread lingered in his chest. He sat there in the dim light for a moment, staring blankly at the wall as his breathing evened out.
"Just a dream," he whispered, though the words felt hollow.
"Pull yourself together," he muttered, splashing cold water on his face. Whatever the dream had been, it was just a dream—or so he convinced himself.
***
