Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 51 -Morning Echoes

I took a sip of my coffee, its warmth barely easing the heaviness of my still-tired eyes. I had woken up far too early, my mind still reeling from a dream so vivid, it clung to me like mist. It was about Nick and Jaimes—two faces from my past, yet in the dream, they felt as real as the morning light filtering through the curtains.

In the dream, Nick seemed... okay. Too okay, almost like he didn't want to come back. The feeling unsettled me. Jaimes was there too, watching over me, his presence warm yet filled with a sadness that lingered like a shadow. I couldn't shake the heaviness that had settled over me, the aching sense of loss.

Taking a deep breath, I texted my mom, needing a familiar connection.

Are you and the others awake yet?

I was already missing them, more than I could put into words. A few minutes later, her reply came,

Want to do a video call?

A small smile tugged at my lips as I sank deeper into Josh's couch. Outside, the rain tapped softly against the windows—my favorite kind of weather. I felt a quiet comfort in it as I waited for the call to connect.

"Good morning, Arwen," Mom's face appeared on my screen, her smile warm but tired, the lines around her eyes showing the strain of worry.

"Morning, Mom," I said, a soft warmth spreading through me at the sight of her. Despite everything, her presence was always grounding.

"How are you?" she asked, stirring her coffee absently.

"I'm okay, just woke up early," I said, tucking my feet under me for warmth. "It's cold here, been raining since last night."

She gave a small nod. "That sounds nice, actually. No classes today, so you can take it easy."

I smiled. "Yeah, I will. How are you, Mom?"

"I'm alright," she began, but I could see the cloud of worry darkening her features. "Still worried about your brother. Have you heard anything about him?"

Her voice wavered just slightly, and I knew that asking about Nick had been weighing on her. I took a deep breath, preparing to offer her what little comfort I could. "I did, actually." It wasn't a complete lie. My vision of Nick had felt so real.

"Really? When, Arwen?" she asked, her eyes brightening with hope.

"Before I woke up," I said, the words catching in my throat. "I saw him, but it was like I couldn't reach him. He couldn't see or hear me."

Her brow furrowed with concern. "How is he? Does he look okay?"

I hesitated, biting my lip. "He looks... fine. His hair's longer, and he's tanned—like he's been somewhere sunny." I tried to keep my voice light, even managing a chuckle. "He looked strong."

Mom's eyes softened, a faint smile touching her lips as she absorbed my words. "I'm so glad to hear that," she whispered. But even as she spoke, I could see the weight of her longing, her endless hope that Nick would come back.

"I miss him too, Mom. So much," I admitted, blinking away the tears threatening to spill. "But if I find a way to reach him, I'll let you know. I promise."

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you, sweetheart. I just want to know he's safe."

We spent the next few minutes catching up on life. Mom told me about Grae,I shared bits about my classes and how Josh and Leroy were keeping me company. But as we talked, I couldn't ignore the lingering thought of Nick—how distant he felt, even in my dream.