Chapter 1
In this huge universe where countless lives appear and disappear, sometimes I wonder if a single person really matters. People breathe, sleep, wake up, and do it again, without knowing what really lies beyond the edge of what we see. Maybe we are just passing through, never understanding anything.
That night, a strange thought stuck to my mind.
Where do we actually go when we sleep?
Our bodies rest. Our breathing slows. But our minds... they drift somewhere else. Dreams appear from nowhere and fade again like they never existed. When we blackout into sleep, where does our consciousness really go?
I didn't know why I was thinking like this. Maybe I was just tired. A cold wind slipped through the window and brushed against my skin. It made me shiver, and my eyes felt heavy. Tomorrow I had classes, but my mind refused to settle. The numbness spread slowly and I drifted into sleep.
At least, I thought I did.
When I opened my eyes again, something felt strange. I wasn't scared, but I wasn't fully awake either. My body felt real, yet distant. Like part of me was still asleep somewhere else.
I pushed myself up and walked toward the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, tired and confused. Then I saw it.
A faint mark on my forehead.
I leaned closer. It wasn't completely visible, but I could feel it. Like warmth pressing under my skin. I touched my forehead. No pain. Just a strange sensation. My body felt normal but something inside me didn't.
Then a knock hit my door.
"Wake up. We'll be late," my brother's voice said.
I blinked, shook my head, and splashed cold water on my face. When I wiped it and looked again, the mark was still faintly there. Or maybe I was imagining it. But my skin tingled.
My brother knocked again, louder.
"You really miss him that much? Staring at your face this early?"
He pushed the door open half way, smirking. I forced a breath.
"Do you see anything on my forehead?" I asked, tapping the spot lightly.
He squinted. "No. Why? Did you hit your head?"
"Nothing. Just itchy," I answered quickly.
"Yeah, sure. You look weird today. Hurry up," he said before walking off.
I stood there for another second. My heart felt heavy, like something unseen had wrapped around it. I finally went downstairs, dragging my feet. I put on a black jacket and a T-shirt, then stepped outside.
The door closed behind me. The world looked normal, peaceful, even boring. But it didn't feel the same. The trees whispered in the wind. The cold bit my skin. And the silent morning felt too quiet, like it was waiting for something.
As I walked between rows of trees, the faint warmth on my forehead pulsed again.
Something had changed.
Yet I felt like something or someone was observing me from myself gazing at me like I was an interesting thing to observe.yet I felt like it was natural that belonged to me. The trees neatly arranged around me filled me with calm as, I started pondering what is this strang felling I've been feeling time to time with this question on my mind I stopped and thought " well better to go back home I've got classes" this entire thing is messing with my head. I grabbed my head and yelled what's going with me this is driving me insane. I the way back I met my brother 3 years younger than me full of excitement I called ken what you up to huh. Squinting his eyes he said bro it's already 8:45 go and eat or else you gonna get spanked by mom.then grining he set of to our school. Getting spanked huh! I thought , it's a everyday task for me now isn't it I laughed scilantly. Well better hurry huh. After a while the door open and I walked in. Well look who's back huh go and eat your breakfast young man she said with a starn tone I whimpered a reply "ok mother" and hurried to eat. What sweet morning I thought not paying attention to my ta the atmosphere around me a deep voice reached to my blacked out mind Amanda. I jolted up from my chair to me I heard the most exciting thing in a while my father had returned. I rushed to him hugging him, with some tears in my eyes father I stammered where were you I said. Seeing my pitiful face the scary face of a man got replaced with softness that cold melt any child. Where your mother little one he said in a soft and words. Mo-mother huh I stammered holding tears back she is in the backyard. Ok then let's go to meet her he scoped me into his arms and led me to the backyard. I saw mom hanging some clothes then a strict tone she said didn't I tell you to eat your breakfast. Ya mom but, what but little rascal and turned around after seeing that talk femiler man her voice was I like I haven't heard in years she stammered honey, my lovely lady haw have you been. Oo wow the little one is already asleep she signed I would take me well over two hours to put this thing to sleep. You are a pro it aren't you with some tears forming on her eyes and she slowly kept moving and hugged the man and said in a small voice when are you going back ts time I'll stay fro 6 moths. The war with the visitors is definitely going to happen.
After an unknown amount of time two little ones were on their father. Luke you are so annoying you know that said a lady in her late twenties. Luke sighed and said didn't stop you from proposing to me did it ,pouting hmph sound filled the room, looking away her cheeks rud with embrassment. It's late let's go to sleep put the little one's to their rooms and come to our room.