Lila's pov
I woke up gasping. my heart pounding as if it might explode. Sweat clung to my skin, and my bed sheets were tangled around me. For a moment, I didn't know where I was.
My mind was still trapped in the nightmare, the images of it swirling in my head—dark, terrifying, and vague. I couldn't even remember what it was about, but the fear it left behind was real. Tears slid down my cheeks before I even knew they were there.
I sat up, wiping at my face with shaky hands, but the panic wouldn't go away. My breath was starting to become shallow and my vision blurred. I clutched my chest, trying to calm down. I was alone. Alex wasn't here—he was out there somewhere, saving the world like always. And here I was, falling apart
I needed to breathe. Breathe, Lila. I told myself over and over, but it wasn't helping. My hands shook as I reached for my phone. The clock read 2:15 AM.
Tears kept falling, and I couldn't stop them. I felt so small, like I was drowning in my own mind. I'd never had a panic attack like this before. My body was betraying me, and I didn't know how to make it stop. I wanted Alex, wanted him to hold me, tell me everything was going to be okay, but he wasn't here.
I stumbled out of bed, still shaking. I needed to get out. The walls of of home felt like it was choking me. My breath was still fading as I grabbed my hoodie, yanked it over my head, and pulled on some shoes. I wiped my face one last time, trying to steady myself.
Outside. I just needed to be outside. I slipped out into the cool night air. It wasn't comforting, but at least it was different. My legs carried me on autopilot, and before I knew it, I was at my favorite café. It was always open late, even at this time of night. I pushed open the door, the soft bell ringing as I entered.
The warm smell of coffee hit me, a small comfort in my life. The barista glanced at me with a soft, sleepy smile, not saying much. I ordered my usual—something warm and sweet—and found a small corner to sit in.
I sat there, holding my cup, staring at the steam rising from it. My mind was still racing. Why did I feel like this? Why was everything so off lately? I took a sip, trying to calm myself down, but the feeling of being lost, of something missing, wouldn't leave. It was like there was this piece of my life that was just…gone. And I didn't know what it was.
I stared out the window, watching the empty street. The city felt so quiet at night, like the world had paused for a moment. But my mind didn't pause. It kept turning. I was so wrapped up in my confusion that I didn't notice someone walking up to my table until I heard a familiar voice.
"Lila."
I blinked and looked up, my heart skipping a beat. It was Damon.Damon Wolfe I hadn't seen him in…how long? Years. Since high school. My heart raced for a different reason now, but there was something else. A nagging feeling. Hadn't we met already? That didn't make sense.
I blinked again, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. It felt surreal, like a ghost from my past had walked out of my memories and into the present.
"Damon?" I said.
He smiled, that same confident smirk I remembered from high school, though a little older now. "Surprised?"
But before I could think, I stood up and hugged him, my arms wrapping around him without a second thought. It was instinctual, like holding onto something familiar, something solid. For a brief moment, as his arms came around me, the panic eased. The tightness in my chest loosened, and I allowed myself to just breathe.
I hadn't realized how much I missed this—the feeling of being held, of reuniting with someone who once meant so much to me. Damon's hug was firm, and for a few seconds, it was as if the years between us hadn't existed.
"I can't believe it's really you," I said, my voice muffled against his chest. He smelled the same, familiar in a way that made me ache.
He held me tighter, his arms strong around me, and for a moment, I allowed myself to relax. But then that strange feeling crept back. Why did I feel like I'd seen him already? We hadn't met since high school…had we?