Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 52 - Fading in

I bolted upright, gasping for breath. The soft patter of rain against the window was the first sound I registered, grounding me in the reality of Josh's house. My hands clutched the blanket, trembling as I struggled to slow the frantic pounding of my heart. It was a dream. Only a dream.

But it didn't feel like one.

I squeezed my eyes shut, taking deep, measured breaths. My body still buzzed with the raw, visceral emotions from the dream-the confusion, the shock, the betrayal. I could still feel Nick's arms around me, the warmth of his embrace, the innocent eyes of the two children looking up at me, and the hollow pain of hearing the word father.

As I lay back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't stop my mind from replaying every moment, every word. Was it really just a figment of my imagination? Or was it something more-a warning, a vision, or perhaps my subconscious trying to make sense of the uncertainty surrounding Nick?

My heart clenched at the thought. I'd started having these kinds of dreams ever since Nick's disappearance-dreams that felt more like memories or glimpses into a reality I wasn't yet meant to see.

It seems like the curse of the essence connection, I thought. The closer I was to someone, the more likely I was to feel their emotions, their fears, and sometimes... their future.

But was that what this was? A vision of what lay ahead if Nick chose not to return? If he had built a life elsewhere, leaving me, leaving us all behind?

I buried my face in my hands, the chill of the room seeping through my thin nightshirt, grounding me in the present. I wanted to believe it was nothing more than a nightmare-a manifestation of my deepest fears. But the clarity of it, the aching detail of every sensation, every expression, made it feel like something more.

"I can't deal with this right now," I whispered into the quiet of the room, my voice barely audible over the rain. For now, I needed to push it aside, to focus on the day ahead and the comfort of the familiar. But I knew the echoes of this dream would linger, like a shadow cast long before sunset.

I tried to keep myself busy while waiting for Josh to wake up. I scrolled through social media, but my mind kept drifting back to the dream. I hesitated, then sent a simple Hi message to Michael. I wasn't sure if I should tell him about the dream yet, or if I even understood it enough myself to share.

The rain outside had turned into a light drizzle, and the soothing sound against the windows was almost enough to lull me back into a state of calm. Almost.

I was still curled up on the couch in the living room when Josh finally emerged from his room, looking fresh from a shower, his hair damp and sticking to his forehead.

"Good morning, babe," he greeted me with a wide smile, throwing himself onto the couch beside me. He looked effortlessly put together, as always, while I was still in my pajamas, hair a tangled mess.

"Morning," I mumbled back, offering him a small smile as I set my phone down on the table beside me.

Josh stretched out, glancing at me with a mischievous grin. "Sooo... how are things going with you and Diarmid?" His eyes sparkled with curiosity, practically vibrating with excitement.

I raised an eyebrow at him, frowning slightly. "What do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"What do I mean?" Josh scoffed playfully, his voice rising in mock indignation. "Arwen, you two were out for hours last night. You can't just say nothing happened. Spill! What did you two talk about?"

He turned to face me fully, his mouth forming an exaggerated pout, like a kid denied a treat. I couldn't help but smile at his theatrics, rubbing the back of my neck as I tried to find the right words.