Lyra woke with a start. She had been dreaming—a vibrant dream of countless flowers blooming impossibly from the branches of trees. Roses, unlike any she'd ever seen, adorned the boughs.

The jarring sound of a clock abruptly ended the dream. She opened her eyes to find her mother standing over her.

Lyra smiled weakly. "Oh, Mom," she murmured.

Her mother's voice held a mixture of relief and concern. "Lyra, you're finally awake! I've been trying to wake you for ages. Why is your clock wrong?"

Lyra checked the clock on her desk-side cabinet—the one she used for her alarm—and a wave of dismay washed over her. It was wrong.

 "Oh," she mumbled, the realization dawning. "I must have set the alarm incorrectly last night. I was so tired, I didn't even notice."

She glanced at her phone. She was late. Before she could fully process the situation, her mother spoke. "Where are you going?"

"Bathroom," Lyra stammered.

"Why?" her mother asked.

"Mom, I'm late for school!"

"There's no school today," her mother said calmly.

"Why not?"

"There's a storm," her mother explained.

"Oh, really?" Lyra said, relief flooding her.

"Yes," her mother confirmed. "Now, go back to your room, tidy your bed, and then come downstairs for breakfast."

"Okay, Mom," Lyra replied. On her way downstairs, she paused at her bedroom window. The rain was falling heavily. Maybe the storm is really strong today.

Lyra went downstairs and saw her mother at the sink, seemingly busy. She walked over to the table where breakfast was already laid out. "Mom, this looks delicious! I could smell it even when I was still upstairs."

Her mother chuckled. "Stop teasing me about my cooking. I know you're saying that because you kept me waiting so long. you know I'm worried but hopefully you, finally woke up. I was afraid you weren't going to wake up at all."

you know it's happen in my cousin,he didn't even wake up

Lyra approach her mom and hugged her,. "Mom, don't worrry that will not going to happened. It was just a really nice dream, that's all. I didn't want it to end."

So I didn't realize that you're waking me up

Her mother sighed. "Oh, alright. Just sit down and eat."

"Aren't you going to eat with me, Mom?" Lyra asked.

"No, I have to go to work," her mother replied.

"But there's a storm," Lyra pointed out.

Her mother shrugged. "Work still needs to be done."

As her mother was about to leave, Lyra called out, "Mom, be careful!"

Her mother turned back, approaching Lyra. "And Lyra, be careful too! Lock the door and the gate after I leave."

"Okay, Mom. Don't worry," Lyra said, noticing her mother's worried expression. "You're always worrying. I'll be fine; it's not like I'm completely alone."

"Still," her mother said, "Be careful." With a final hug, her mother left.

Lyra closed and locked the gate and the front door. "So quiet," she murmured to herself, now alone in the house.

She ate breakfast, washed her dishes, and went upstairs.

 She sat on the sofa and picked up a book. She saw a photo of her father, a gift from him that she still treasured. The memories brought a wave of sadness, but also a sense of peace. The book slipped from her hands, and she drifted off to sleep.

Six years ago, Lyra's father had been in a car accident. The details remained unclear, the culprit still unidentified. Lyra, only a child then, had been devastated by the loss of her beloved father. Her mother had tirelessly pursued justice, but the police had only offered a cursory explanation: a hit-and-run, possibly involving a drunk driver (they found alcohol in the car). Lyra's mother eventually gave up, accepting the police's inadequate explanation. Lyra still remembered the intense grief she felt then, but now, she was managing to smile again, even if just a little.

to be continued..