As the night wore on, the laughter returned, and the ridiculous dares piled up. Theodore challenged Danielle to backflips and impossible math problems, which she failed miserably, leading to another round of Soju. Soon enough, Danielle was slurring her words, her body wobbling as she tried and failed to do a dare involving flapping her arms like a bird.
“You guys are evil,” she muttered before finally collapsing on the mattress, passing out in a fit of giggles. “Dare after dare... you’re all terrible…”
Reverie laughed, shaking her head. “You’re the one who kept picking dare, Dani.”
With Danielle out for the count, the others started to wind down. Theodore rolled onto his side, clearly exhausted, while Noah stretched out on his back, his eyes half-closed.
For the first time in a long while, Reverie felt a wave of calm wash over her. The dark thoughts of Kazu seemed far away, pushed back by the warmth and safety she felt in the presence of her friends. She glanced at Noah, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched him sleep, his arm draped lazily over his eyes.
The quiet hum of the city outside was a soft lullaby, and as she lay on her back, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by the soft breathing of her friends, Reverie allowed herself to relax completely. For once, there were no threats, no anxieties pulling her into the darkness. No phone buzzing with unwanted messages, no lurking shadows waiting for her in the night.
This was peace.
She felt her eyelids grow heavy, her body slowly sinking into the soft mattress. Noah’s quiet snoring and Theodore’s occasional murmurs filled the room with a comforting, familiar sound. Reverie let out a small sigh of contentment, closing her eyes.
Tonight, for the first time in a long while, Reverie slept soundly. The warmth of friendship wrapped around her like a shield, and for these precious hours, she was free from the weight of her past. She was safe. She was happy.
And as the night deepened, with the soft blanket of sleep pulling her deeper into its embrace, she smiled. A true, unguarded smile.
Tomorrow would come with its own challenges, but tonight, everything was perfect.
-1JULY2004
YOU ARE READING
Echoes Of The Unseen
Lãng mạnAfter the breakup with Aries, Reverie's life took a dramatic turn. Heartbroken and lost, she thought she'd never be able to move on from her first love. But with her best friends Noah, Danielle, and Theodore by her side, she found a way to smile aga...
