Forgotten Shadows: The Haunting Of Hellira Holmes

The first morning

Reluctantly surrendering to the morning's golden rays, Hellira let out a low groan as she forced herself to rise from her comfortable bed. The heaviness of sleep still hanging over her like a persistent fog, she shuffled her feet towards the edge of the bed, met with a touch less vitality than she had anticipated.

With each step, her legs felt as if they were weighed down by an invisible force, sapping away her energy. The tranquil morning air caressing her face as she stumbled down the stairs.

Reaching the kitchen, her sluggish movements betrayed her usual vivacity as her bleary eyes scanned the countertops, her gaze fixated on the gleaming coffee machine.
With a struggle, she found herself pushing the power button, the anticipation building as she yearned for the little black robot to come alive.

The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow, as the heavenly aroma of freshly brewed coffee began to waft through the air, wrapping Hellira in its warm and enticing embrace. She inhaled deeply, feeling a spark of energy reignite within her tired body. Time seemed to collapse in on itself, and the girl impatiently awaited the moment when her cherished coffee would be ready.

At long last, the coffee pot emitted a satisfying beep, a signal that the magic elixir was now within her grasp. She reached for her favorite mug -one she had left at Nora's house last summer on which could be read "Drop it like it's hot"-, it's comforting weight providing solace against her weary hands. She gently poured the steaming liquid, watching as the rich, ebony brew cascaded into the cup with a sense of purpose.

With heavy eyelids and a groggy mind, Hellira reached blindly into the kitchen cabinets, her fingertips clumsily searching for the familiar touch of the sugar canister. In her sleepy haze, she grabbed hold of what she thought was her morning sweetener, only to discover, to her dismay, that it was, in fact, the salt shaker. Oblivious to her blunder, she sprinkled the fine crystals into her mug.

Finally raising it to her lips for a sip, her taste buds were instantly met with a jolt of unexpected flavor. The peculiar combination of salt and coffee invaded her mouth, causing her face to contort into a comical expression of surprise and disgust. Unable to contain her reaction, she let out a burst of laughter, unable to believe her own blunder.

Nora, witnessing the amusing misadventure from across the table, joined in the laughter, finding amusement in Hellira's obliviousness. "Bro, did you just sprinkle salt in your coffee? That's next-level morning madness right there!" She exclaimed, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm.

Rolling her eyes in mock annoyance, but secretly relishing the shared moment of hilarity, Hellira shot back with a playful retort. "Hey, it's called inventing new flavor profiles, alright? I'm just a trendsetter in the world of morning beverages" she joked, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.

"RIGHT..." Her cousin teased, smirking as Hellira answered "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I never claimed to be a morning person, you know!"

In that moment, the kitchen was transformed into a lighthearted space, brimming with infectious laughter and shared joy. The sound of their laughter filled the air, momentarily penetrating the morning daze that clouded their minds.

As they devoured their breakfast, they delved into a nostalgic realm, sharing tales of cringeworthy childhood moments that had long been tucked away. The kitchen resonated with their uproarious laughter, sending peals of hilarity echoing through the air. Each story unveiling an embarrassing mishap or a comical incident, leaving them gasping for breath between fits of laughter, their eyes shimmering with pure teenage glee.

Hellira's eyes were still sparkling with laughter when Nora's face suddenly turned serious, throwing a total curveball to the mood. She leaned closer, her voice tinged with worry, "You know, Hells, we used to be so carefree, so genuinely happy back then. But I guess life has a way of throwing unexpected surprises our way."