Tristeza woke up with heavy eyes. The air around her felt warm, a stark contrast to the cold that usually enveloped her bed. She slowly opened her eyes, trying to adjust to the gentle light coming through the small window in the room. She sat up, gazing around her. This room felt extraordinarily familiar—the wooden walls, the clean floor, and the small floral curtains gently swaying in the morning breeze.
"Where am I?" Tristeza whispered, confused. This was her old room.
Tristeza got out of bed, her steps slow and hesitant. The bedroom door creaked open, and a voice she knew all too well echoed from the living room.
"Tris, are you up?" It was Isabella—her sister. However, this time, her voice sounded different, more mature, softer.
Tristeza paused at the doorway. Before her stood Isabella, wearing a simple dress that made her look so graceful, her smile warm. Her sister now appeared older, taller, more beautiful—like a mature woman.
"Good morning, my dear sister," Isabella said, her voice as soft as morning dew. She stepped closer, smoothing Tristeza's messy hair. "Did you sleep well?"
Tristeza stared at Isabella with wide eyes, hardly believing what she was seeing. "Sister? Is it really you?" Her voice trembled, filled with doubt.
Isabella smiled and nodded. "Of course. Come on, breakfast is ready. Mom and Dad are waiting in the kitchen."
"Dad? Mom?" Tristeza mumbled softly. She followed Isabella's footsteps as they left her small room and headed to the dining room. Her heart raced, unable to comprehend what she was witnessing. At the dining table, her father sat smiling, his face glowing just as she remembered from the past. Beside him, her mother stirred warm porridge before placing a bowl on the table.
"Good morning, Tris!" Her father greeted her in a deep voice filled with warmth. "You slept in a bit today. Did you sleep well?"
Her mother turned and smiled gently. "Come on, sit down, dear. Breakfast is ready."
Tristeza froze at the doorframe, staring at her family. A warm and happy feeling began to flow within her, but something felt off. This couldn't be real. Her parents and Isabella… had all— Tristeza looked at her sister again. The sister who had cared for her now seemed so grown-up and beautiful. It didn't make sense, but her heart wanted to believe it.
"Come on, Tris! Aren't you hungry?" Isabella patted the chair beside her, encouraging Tristeza to sit down.
After several seconds of silence, Tristeza finally gave in. She walked to the dining table and sat down among her family. "Yeah, I'm hungry," she murmured quietly, wiping away tears that threatened to fall. She began to eat, savoring every bite. The porridge tasted so warm and delicious, as if she had never tasted food this good before. Now her tears flowed freely. "This is so good," she said through her tears, surprising everyone.
After breakfast, Tristeza helped her mother in the kitchen, washing dishes while listening to light stories that made her laugh. Her father invited her to help fix the wooden fence in front of the house, and Tristeza followed eagerly, feeling like a carefree child without any burdens. She ran around the yard, feeling the earth beneath her feet and the cool breeze on her face. Everything felt so real, so alive.
As afternoon came, Isabella asked her to accompany her for a walk around the village. Tristeza nodded happily, and they walked together along the footpath, their hands linked as they used to.
"Sis, you're so beautiful now," Tristeza suddenly said, looking at her sister walking beside her.
Isabella smiled, her eyes shining. "Thank you, Tris. You're beautiful too; you've grown into a lovely child."
Tristeza giggled softly. "But I'm not as beautiful as you."
Isabella hugged Tristeza tightly, making her sister feel warm. "Beauty isn't just about looks, Tris."
Happiness enveloped them throughout the day, and Tristeza began to forget her worries. She started to believe this was all reality. Her family was there, her sister was there, and her life was back to normal like it used to be.
However, as the sun began to set, its rays gently illuminated Tristeza's face. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling warm, but something changed. It felt strange, not like the usual warmth of sunlight.
She opened her eyes again, but the world around her began to fade. That little house, the laughter of her family, everything slowly vanished. "No…" Tristeza whispered, panicking. She turned to Isabella, but her sister's figure began to blur into shadows.
"Sis! Don't go! Please, don't disappear! No, no, no, no!" Tristeza screamed, trying to reach Isabella who was now just a hazy shadow before her. But everything gradually faded, drawn away by the blinding sunlight.
Tristeza woke up gasping for breath, her body trembling. The morning sunlight filtered through the ruins where she slept, casting such a bright light on her face. She blinked, realizing it had all been a dream.
A beautiful yet painful dream.
She covered her face with her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I… I want to go back. Why does it have to end?" she sobbed, her heart feeling so shattered. Her family was gone again, leaving her in an unavoidable solitude.
Crying, Tristeza hugged her knees, her body shaking. The dream felt so real, but now all that remained were ruins and silence. Isabella, Dad, Mom… all gone again, just shadows in her memory.