The Absolute Surrender

Chapter 2: The Edge of Reality

The day they rolled on like any other, with Lilian and Noah working quietly at the diner. They moved from table to table, the routine familiar and comfortable, enough to get by even if the pay wasn't great. When night fell, they took a short break before closing up.

Lilian stepped outside to enjoy the cool evening air, letting the day's worries drift away. Noah came out behind her, handing her a can of juice with his warm smile. They settled on a bench near the diner, looking at the nearly empty highway. The quiet of the night wrapped around them, offering a peaceful moment in their busy lives.

Lilian took a sip of the juice and looked at Noah, her eyes gentle. "Thanks, Noah. You spoil me," she said with a playful smile, lifting the can in gratitude. "I wish every day could be like this."

Noah chuckled, his laugh warm and easy. But then his eyes turned serious, and he stared down the dark road, no humor creeping into his voice. "How's the search for your parents going?" he asked.

Lilian turned to meet Noah's gaze but quickly looked down at the ground, a sad smile forcing its way onto her face.  "Even if I wanted to find them, I don't know where to start or who to ask. That's why I'm working so hard—to save enough for a private investigator. Maybe then I can finally move on with my life."

Noah's face grew serious as he stared at the road, after a moment, he said softly, "I've saved up some money too. I can lend you some to help you start your search."

Lilian looked up, surprised. "No, don't do that, Noah. I'm not your responsibility, and you need that money more than I do. Besides, there's no guarantee we'll find anything. I'm okay. I'm not in a hurry."

Noah was about to make a teasing comment when he noticed a sudden change in Lilian's eyes. Her face went pale, and she tensed as if she'd been shocked. Before he could react, she dropped the can of juice and ran toward the highway, her footsteps echoing in the quiet night.

Noah stood frozen, confusion gripping him as he watched Lilian disappear into the darkness.

Lilian's heart raced, each beat thundering in her ears. Lost in thought, she suddenly spotted a small figure darting into the road—a young boy, no older than seven, chasing a toy that had slipped from his hand. Panic washed over her as she realized the boy was heading straight for an oncoming truck, its headlights cutting through the night.

"Get off the road! Get off the road, kid! Move out of the way!" she yelled, her voice breaking with panic. Her words were lost in the night, but the boy kept playing, unaware of the danger. The truck's driver, hidden in the darkness, had not seen the child yet, and fear tightened around Lilian's chest.

Without a moment's hesitation, Lilian lunged forward, her feet pounding against the pavement with frantic urgency. The wind roared past her, tugging at her clothes, and the icy night air stung her skin as she raced against time. The distance between her and the boy seemed to stretch endlessly, each second dragging with agonizing slowness. As she reached the boy, the truck's headlights erupted into view, temporarily blinding her, casting sharp shadows and revealing the danger.

With all her strength, Lilian threw herself at the boy, pushing him out of the truck's path just in time. Her shove sent him rolling to safety, driven by pure instinct. The truck's horn blared, and its tires screeched against the asphalt, a terrifying reminder of how close they had come to disaster. But now, Lilian faced the harsh reality as the truck bore down on her.

She shut her eyes against the blinding headlights, her mind racing with one terrifying thought.

I'm going to die.

In those seconds that felt like hours, time slowed down, making every detail stand out. Everything around Lilian blurred into a bright light, and the truck's horn blared like a siren. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, each beat a drum of fear.

Amid the chaos and screeching tires, a distant voice cut through the noise—a voice she recognized with shocking clarity. It was familiar, pulling her back to memories of her past. She took a shallow breath, tasting the cold fear and the sharp edge of what might come.

The weight of the moment hit her hard, mixing with the pain of nearly being hit. Her mind flashed back to all the times she had shared with Noah: their laughter, their struggles. A wave of regret washed over her, and she whispered words of thanks in her heart as the darkness closed in.

I'm sorry, Noah.

***********

Lilian groaned as the bright light pierced through her closed eyelids. Slowly, she raised her arms to shield her eyes and carefully opened them. Her breath caught as she looked at the vast blue sky above her, dotted with crescent-shaped clouds.

She was floating!

A feeling of familiarity washed over her, as the scene looked just like the vivid dreams she had been having. A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

So, this is another journey to the dream world.

The thought comforted her. Lilian looked around in wonder, amazed by the sky's deep blue color, as clear as pure water, like something from a fairytale. Light shimmered across it like golden threads over hidden treasures. Lilian smiled as she enjoyed the peaceful beauty around her.

Her descent was gentle. When her foot finally touched the wet grass, she almost lost her balance. She steadied herself and saw the grand tree she had dreamed about. It was just as she remembered but now visible without the blinding light. Lilian walked toward it, reaching out to touch the familiar tree. As her fingers brushed the mystical tree, a tiny sparkle caught her eye. She shut her eyes suddenly, feeling overwhelmed as she was pulled deeper into another world. A scream slipped out as she was completely engulfed by the situation.

When Lilian woke up, she felt dizzy and weak. It was hard to open her eyes; her skin felt numb, and everything around her seemed unstable. She felt sick and tried to move, but she couldn't. Heavy rain poured down, and lightning flashed across the dark sky, followed by thunder. The clear blue sky from earlier felt like a distant memory. Despair took over as she tried to roll over and find shelter.

Then, amidst the howling wind, she started to hear a familiar sound growing louder. Lilian tried to hide in fear but couldn't move. When the large presence finally reached her, she was lifted and wrapped in strong arms. She felt the neigh of a horse and brushed against its golden armor. As the horse galloped, Lilian felt the swift motion through the wind and rain. Peace returned as they rode through the vast forest, and soon, she fell into complete darkness.