Lost Souls

Chapter 19

I was up early the following day, barely sleeping the previous night. Nightmares had made the precious hours of sleep I managed to get fitful and interrupted—identical to the scenario Ani had experienced in one of her own months ago. I called her name until my voice gave out and searched until the moon rose over the water.

Even when my body had cried out for rest, and my lungs had begged for water, I had scoured every inch of the realms. When I'd found Ani having that nightmare, I had felt an unbearable pain in my chest, but fear had amplified it in this particular nightmare—what had felt like my heart had been torn clean in half was now like half of my heart was missing.

Even awake, my heart raced in my chest as panic seized me. A gentle knock sounded on the door, and I scrubbed a hand over my face, clearing my throat before opening my mouth. "Come in."

A heartbeat later, the door opened as Dad stuck his head in, his eyes shining with relief. "Guess what? Dr. Murphy said that you can—" When he glimpsed my face, he abruptly stopped talking. Concern replaced the relief in his eyes as he swam inside and shut the door behind him.

I saw the words in his eyes before he even opened his mouth. I knew I couldn't bear to dredge up the feelings that the nightmare had evoked, so I spoke before he could. "Have you seen Ani?" Whether he noticed the lingering panic in my eyes or saw my white-knuckled grip on the blankets, he didn't let on.

He blinked before answering. "Yeah. She's outside with Bella." It was only then that he saw the panic in my eyes. "I'll go get her."

Even though I knew it had been a nightmare, even though I knew that Ani was okay, I wouldn't be able to relax until I saw her with my own eyes. My body was tense; I gritted my teeth so hard that the cords in my neck stood out. I couldn't suppress the panic and fear choking me.

After Faye had passed, I realized that I had been feeling alone and cut off from others in the months following her death. Ani had been my anchor in a sea of grief. Whether she realized it or not, she'd become why I got out of bed in the mornings. And now, after spending more and more time with her, I realized that I was falling for her. I'd been lost and adrift in the months following Faye's death; Ani had become the anchor that saved me.

When the door opened again, I snapped my head up, meeting Ani's concerned gaze. Her eyes scanned mine, traveling down my body and back to my face. "Drew? What's—"

I didn't give her a chance to finish. Ignoring the tremors that shuddered through my body, I got out of bed and rushed towards her. She met me in the middle, eyes widening as I threw my arms around her. "Are you okay?" She asked. I didn't answer; I clung to her, terrified that if I let go, she'd disappear.

I let out a tense breath, finally allowing the tension to drain from my body. Ani was the first to pull back, gripping my hands as she scanned my face again. When I finally responded, my voice was rough and halting. "You—I couldn't find you."

Recognition flashed across her face at the exact moment her eyes softened. "I'm okay. I'm right here. You didn't lose me." Word-for-word what I'd said to her only yesterday.

Gently, she put a hand on my back as she guided me back to the bed. I hadn't realized I was trembling until Ani had gripped my hands. She swallowed hard, taking a deep breath before she spoke. "I was talking to your parents, and they said you can go home today. Dr. Murphy made them promise to get in touch with her if this happens again or if the wound gets worse in the future."

Before the words had even left her mouth, the door opened again as Mom and Dad swam inside. I noticed the matching smiles on their faces first, and I shook my head, confused. "What's going on?" Ani had an identical expression as she wordlessly squeezed my hand.