Aurora's P.O.V

I froze where I stood, my eyes widening as I stared at her, unable to process the words that had just left her mouth.

"What... what do you mean by that, Mother?" My voice shook as though I were a child again, and I could feel my throat tightening.

"If I'm not dead, then...then how am I seeing you right now? You can't be here. You can't be standing in front of me like this."

She only gave me a gentle smile, the kind that once made everything feel safe, ...