Judy awoke to the lingering echoes of her nightmare, her heart still pounding as if trying to escape the remnants of her restless sleep. The heavy silence of her room was abruptly shattered by a firm knock on the door, accompanied by a voice that sliced through the murky remnants of her dream.
"Hey, Judy! Wake up! Are you okay? Why are you crying and sweating? Do you feel sick? Do you want to go to the hospital?"
It was Ethan, her younger brother, standing in the doorway with a furrowed brow and concern written on his youthful face. His presence provided a flicker of relief.
"No, it's just a bad dream," she managed to reply, forcing a quick smile even as turmoil churned in her chest. Relief flooded over her; it was merely a nightmare, though her pulse raced with the remnants of fear.
"What kind of dream was it?" Ethan asked, his inquisitive eyes sparkling with the kind of curiosity only siblings understand.
"I'll tell you another day. Can you hug me, please?" Her voice softened, the weight of her vulnerability spilling through the cracks of her facade.
"But it's going to cost you," he teased, a playful grin surfacing and dispelling the gloom in the air. "Oh, really? Like how you make me pay whenever I do your assignments?" She shot back, trying to inject humor into the moment while suppressing the pang of disappointment. Despite their playful rivalry, he was the only anchor she had amid the raging storm of her emotions.
"Well, you know you make me buy your snacks every day. Count that as payment," he laughed, crossing his arms playfully.
"Then from now on, the snack count will increase," she said, unable to stifle a grin.
"Ah, I know I can't win an argument with you. Anyway, hurry up and get ready, or you'll miss breakfast."
"Okay." As he turned to leave, a spark of hesitation crept into her mind. "Um, Ethan?" "What?" He popped his head back through the door.
"Big bro, can you keep this a secret? Promise me?" Her voice dropped, heavy with vulnerability; she didn't want to revisit the dark realms of her dream.
He regarded her with earnestness for a moment before nodding. "Your secret will be safe with me, Zizi," he promised, a smirk dancing on his lips. "But it's just a dream, and you want to keep it a secret? You're really dramatic." With that, the door clicked shut, leaving her in the quiet of her room. Judy sat up, her heartbeat gradually calming as she embraced gratitude that it was merely a dream, albeit one that had left her breathless.
Instead of rushing from the warmth of her bed, she lingered beneath the covers, contemplating a long, soothing bath to wash away the residue of her night terrors. Another knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she called, knowing it was her mother this time.
"Are you still sleeping?" Her mother stepped inside, concern flickering across her face like a shadow as she took in Judy's disheveled appearance.
"No, Mom. Good morning," Judy replied, attempting to exhibit a semblance of normalcy. "Good morning, my sweet sleepy girl. What happened today? Why didn't you wake up earlier?" her mother asked, her voice soft yet tinged with worry.
"I went to bed at midnight preparing for my presentation on Monday," Judy explained, aware that her mother had always stressed the importance of rest. "But you should really take care of yourself; you need rest sometimes," her mother chided gently, her tone familiar and rehearsed.
"That's true, Mom," Judy acknowledged, though inside, she felt the pressure of expectations—her studies felt more like a weighty obligation than a passion. "Now, get up, shower, and get ready for breakfast. Your father and I have something important to discuss with you," her mother said, leaving the room with a definitive nod.
"Okay, but what do you want to talk about?" Judy called after her.
"Around the table!" her mother replied cheerfully before disappearing down the hallway. Though reluctance tugged at her to remain cocooned under her blankets, a burgeoning curiosity gnawed at her. *I hope it's something good*, she mumbled to herself.
Five minutes later, as she descended the staircase, the enticing aroma of roasting meat wafted through the air—delicious, savory, just as she loved it. Yet, everything felt slightly off. Her father occupied the couch, deeply engrossed in a magazine, while her mother was busy cooking, and Ethan had taken on the role of setting the table. "You finally came!" Ethan exclaimed, relief mixed with impatience evident in his voice.
"No, I was going to stay in bed. What's going on today?" Judy asked, noticing the table adorned with an extravagant spread. An uneasy sensation settled in her stomach, heightened by the absence of their usual housekeeper, Maria. "Maria won't be coming here anymore," her mother announced, her voice heavy.
Surprised glances exchanged between Judy and Ethan spoke volumes of their unease. "Why not?" Judy asked, her apprehension knotting tighter in her stomach.
"Maria's mother is very sick, and she has to take care of her," her mother explained, sadness tinging her voice.
"I hope her mom gets better soon," Ethan said sincerely, his empathy shining through.
"She was a good person, too," their father added, glancing up from his magazine. A solemn silence enveloped them, the weight of reality settling like a dense fog around their table. As Judy took her seat, a cold knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. With the fragrance of breakfast swirling around them, she couldn't shake the sense that the day held more than either of them expected.