Selena's eyes fluttered open, her 13-year-old body trembling with fear. She was drenched in sweat, her heart racing like a jackrabbit. Her bedroom was dimly lit, tears flowed out of her eyes uncontrollably. Selena grabbed some tissue and wiped her very damp, sweaty and snot-filled face. Returning was not some magical panacea that would somehow erase all the bad things that happened to her.
In her dream, she had been back in the desolate future, the world destroyed and her loved ones gone. She had been standing in a cramped, dingy underground bunker, surrounded by the faces of dead orphans. They had all been around her age, their eyes sunken, their skin pale. They had all died from ash lung, a disease caused by inhaling the toxic particles that filled the air after the Cascade Arc Volcanic Eruption.
Selena had seen her own face among the dead orphans, her eyes frozen in a permanent stare. She had seen the fear and the pain etched on her own face, and it had shaken her to her core.
As she lay in bed, Selena couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She had been having nightmares about the Hubs frequently, Jack,a love that would probably not blossom again. Even if she met Jack again, it would not be the same Jack she loved. The explosion that killed him.
A.A. turning against her and haunting her with her past lives shame and she knew it was because of the memories that lingered in her mind.
The memories of the dead haunted her dreams, faces of dead children that had not been born yet. Those deaths, in which she had a front row seat still lingered ruthlessly in her dreams. So vividly.
Selena threw off the covers and got out of bed, her legs shaky beneath her. She stumbled to the bathroom, flipping on the light and gazing at her reflection in the mirror.
Her eyes looked sunken, her skin pale. She looked like a ghost, a shadow of her former self. Selena took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
Just then, the bathroom door creaked open and her mother, Molly, stood in the doorway. Molly's eyes were tired, her makeup smudged from a long night of work at the strip club.
"Hey, baby, what's wrong?" Molly asked, concern etched on her face.
Selena hesitated, unsure of how to explain the nightmare, the regression, the entire surreal experience. "I just had a bad dream, Mom," she said finally, trying to brush it off.
Molly's expression softened, and she stepped into the bathroom, wrapping her arms around Selena. "It's okay, baby. I'm here. You're safe."
And she knew that she had to do something to stop it. She had to find a way to prevent the catastrophic future, no matter what it took.
Molly's expression turned soft, and she hugged her tightly. "My poor baby, your heart is pounding. Maybe it's just the heat getting to you. It's been a hot summer, after all. Do you want to talk about it?"
Selena knew her mother was trying to help her, but she couldn't talk to her about it. Instead, she sunk into her embrace, she had started soaking up the attention her mother willingly wanted to give her. But inside, she knew that something was off, as an adult she knew that it must be her worry about starting school and reliving the future.
Molly held her daughter close, feeling a mix of emotions as she gazed at Selena's trembling form. She had never seen her daughter like this before, so shaken and scared. It was as if Selena had suddenly matured beyond her years, bearing the weight of a thousand worries on her shoulders.
Molly's mind raced with terrible thoughts. What if something horrible had happened to Selena while she and James were out, too caught up in their own problems to notice? She had been drinking very heavily until Selena confronted her for drunk driving. What if someone had hurt her, or worse?
This was the first time Selena had woken up from one of her bad dreams, and Molly was determined to be there for her. James had told her about the nightmares, about how Selena would scream and cry, reliving some sort of trauma that she couldn't quite remember. Molly would capitalize on this to reassure her daughter.
Molly held her daughter silently, trying her best to comfort her. She stroked Selena's hair, feeling a lump form in her throat as she saw the fear in her daughter's eyes.
"Hey, baby, it's okay," Molly cooed, her tone soft and reassuring. "I'm here. You're safe, James can still kick ass you know."
Selena's trembling slowly subsided, and she looked up at her mother with tears-stained eyes. "Mommy, I'm scared," she confessed, her voice full of fear.
Molly's heart broke at the sight of her daughter's fear. She knew she had to do something to comfort her, to make her feel safe again.
"Hey, baby, do you want Mommy to snuggle you to sleep like I used to when you were little?" Molly asked, trying to sound as soothing as possible.
Selena nodded, and Molly smiled, relief washing over her. She tucked Selena into bed, wrapping her arms around her daughter's small form.
As they lay there, Molly felt Selena's body relax, her breathing slowing down as she drifted off to sleep. Molly held her close, feeling a sense of peace wash over her.
For the first time in weeks, Selena slept peacefully, her nightmares momentarily forgotten. And Molly lay beside her, watching over her daughter, determined to keep her safe from whatever horrors lurked in the shadows.
Molly slowly slid out of Selena's small bed, careful not to disturb her daughter's peaceful slumber. She had mastered the art of slipping in and out of Selena's bed over the years, and it was a ritual she cherished.
Molly was already showered and dressed in a pair of sweat shorts and a crop top PJ shirt with a cartoon character on it. James smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hey,", his voice low and husky. Molly still looked like the young and beautiful teenager he had fallen in love with in middle and high school.
Molly turned to him, her blonde hair wrapped in a towel. "Hey," she replied, her voice soft and quiet. As a practice she and James called the night the whispering hours.
James leaned against the sink, his eyes fixed on Molly's face. "Kiddo seems stressed out," he said, his brow furrowed with concern. "School's coming up. She must be nervous about starting somewhere new."
Molly's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes clouding over. "I think it's more than that, James," she said, her voice laced with worry. "Selena was bullied pretty badly at her old school. Maybe it's nerves about starting over, or maybe it's something more."
James's expression turned grim, his jaw clenched in anger. "We'll get through this, Molly," he said, his voice firm. "She has been going to Alateen, maybe she is just working through her own version of the program."
Molly's face softened, her eyes filling with tears. "I think we forced her to grow up too fast, James," she said, she continued her voice soft, but full of excitement. "But at least she snuggled up with me tonight. I missed my little "moonpie"" Molly whispered and smiled.
James's expression turned surprised, his eyebrows shooting up. "She hasn't done that in years," he said, his voice full of love. He felt so happy for Molly.
Molly smiled, her eyes sparkling with tears. "Maybe we need to remind her that she's still a kid, James," she said, her voice full of conviction. "Maybe we need to show her that there's still good in the world."
James nodded, his expression determined. "I'm in," he said. "What did you have in mind?"
Molly's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "How about a road trip to the fair?" she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We can get Selena a new outfit, and I'll fill the kiddie pool for when we get back. It'll be like old times, James."
James chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're a genius, Molly," he said, his voice full of admiration. "I'll pack a huge lunch."
Molly laughed, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Deal," she said, her voice husky. "No tuna. Selena gets to choose the music for the road trip."
James grinned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Deal," he repeated, his voice low.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Molly felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in years. Maybe, just maybe, they could heal as a family, and find a way to move forward together.
Without another word, James leaned in, his lips brushing against Molly's in a soft, gentle kiss. Molly's heart skipped a beat as she felt a spark of passion ignite between them.
As they stood there, lost in the moment, Molly knew that this was what they needed. A chance to reconnect, to heal, and to move forward together.
And as they broke apart, gasping for air, Molly smiled up at James, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, I think we're going to be okay," she said, her voice husky.
James grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I think you might be right," he said, his voice low and husky.
James and Molly's lips met again, their kiss deepening as they lost themselves in the moment. They had always had a passionate relationship, and it was clear that their love for each other was still strong.
Without breaking their kiss, James reached out and turned off the bathroom light. The sudden darkness seemed to heighten their senses, and they kissed with a renewed intensity.
Molly's hands slipped under James's shirt, her fingers tracing the scars on his chest. James's hands, in turn, roamed over Molly's body, his fingers sending shivers down her spine.
They made love quickly and quietly, their bodies moving in perfect sync. It was a fleeting moment of passion, but it was enough to remind them of the love they shared.
Afterward, they slipped into bed, exhausted but happy. They lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, and let the silence wash over them.
As they drifted off to sleep, Molly smiled, feeling grateful for the love they shared. Despite the challenges they faced, they had each other, and that was all that mattered.
James's chest rose and fell with a gentle snore, and Molly smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She fell asleep and awoke to the sounds of the house running.
Molly's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the spread James had prepared for her. She felt a deep sense of gratitude towards him, not just for the food, but for being a rock for her during her journey to sobriety.
Last night was a turning point for them. They had connected on a deep level, talking about their daughter and their hopes for the future. And then, they had made love, rekindling the flame that had once burned so brightly between them.
As she finished eating, Molly's thoughts turned to James, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and hope. She made her way to the basement, where James was waiting for her.
She hopped on his back, peppering him with kisses and whispers. "Marry me," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
James smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not until I can afford to give you a ring," he said, his voice low and husky. "Soon."
Molly's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I don't need that," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "Just you and me and the city hall is enough, Mr. White."
She pecked him again, her lips brushing against his ear. And then, she got to work, her hands moving deftly as she helped James with his tasks.
As they worked together, Molly felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She knew that she and James still had their ups and downs, but at that moment, she felt like they were exactly where they were meant to be.