Chapter 213. Awakening to Despair

DOVE

I knew it wasn’t real; Ian wasn’t there, and he hadn’t screamed. He couldn’t speak, and I was painfully aware of it when the images began to distort.

I tried to pinch myself to return to the real world before it was too late. I had no idea what was happening in my reality, where my children or husband were, or what had occurred after Sallie had taken me from Mirna’s room.

I wanted to shake my head until it exploded; the fear of opening my eyes again seemed to paralyze me.

What had happened to me?

Each trance became more distressing. I saw my children in the same room with my husband, sleeping in the same crib and cuddling together.

Despite knowing it was an illusion, I couldn’t help but smile; seeing them as siblings always brought me joy. Protecting them remained my driving force in life. Jacob was still sleeping, and I tried to wake him up to help me escape.

“Jacob… Wake up,” I began to say before he turned and looked at me with bulgi