In the eye of the Storm

and faced with the same pink fairy drawing on the wall that read, "The Hap

e filled completely with sadness and des

, as if I were the only one there, with

to myself as I crouched down to the floor, s

okay," Mrs. Karen emerged from the shadows and

t her, tears and snot streaming down my face. "He s

pa will be back soon, and everything wil

g, I could tell that they held no substance of tr

**

oftly, shaking my shoulder wit

ed, my brow furr

urged, gentle yet insistent, tr

d lingering still on my arm. Still caught in the grip of the n

t as she tried to get me to wake up. Stacy watched me with concern as I f

tacy asked, her voice f

ease from the dream as I wiped my face. "Yeah, just a b

ed. "You sure? You looked pretty

nt to talk about why you basically dragged me out of the club yesterday?" Stacy's

nothing happened, I promise," I

hat could he possibly do

was about to text Devin and hav

re anymore. And let's be real, you looked like you were having too much fu

head to the bathroom for a bit with your new

ast. Damn, my head is killing me

nto laughter. "Are you really not

back, and with a wink, she responded, "I'll just have you k

know you try to put on a brave face, but I'm not going anywhe

rossing my face. "I'm okay, Stacy. Thanks for waking

t to push me any further, which was one of the reasons we had remained my best

's go get something to eat, girl. I'm actually

," I whispered, rushing to the

night was a success, huh Daph?" Stacy start

sked with a conf

ho-shall-not-be-named, you kno

we talking about?" I

tely worked," Stacy said, laughin

I had so much fun; I didn't have time

'm here. I'm always going to be here, you

you two talk about?" she sai

d who talk about?" I asked

hottie from the bar, you kno

best time with them, if you know

s okay, nothing out of the ordi

hing, girl,"

ing everything sound scandalous," I reto

, girl, spill the tea. Did you exchange numbers?

n. "No numbers exchanged, just some casual co

st it was a distraction, righ

distraction," I agreed, feelin

f the day?" Stacy asked, brea

to catch up on a bunch of work. I'm neck-deep in

you know it was a bad idea. Good luck

ng of guilt. I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts and worries

she reached the door. "Thanks for

, Daph. Besides, I'm literally your only fr

the door, leaving me alone with my thou

away started creeping back in. The nightmare still haunted me, mixing wit

y did I have to drink so much? If I had just a little more..." No, it's okay, I'm oka

place in a while," I said, fee

Karen. She really was like a mother t

ghostly whispers. Mrs. Karen's comforting presence, the familiar walls of that place... It

es? And why did they leave me feeling unsett

w that dream had been a warning, a harbinger of what was to come. I really shouldn't have