Dahlia

I wake with sunlight burning into my face and the horrible realization that I dreamed about Alaric again.

This time it wasn’t about pain or rejection. It wasn’t even one of those half-memories where I mistake the way he looks at me as something real. This one was worse.

It was soft.

He kissed my temple. He touched my hand. He said my name like it wasn’t a burden.

Waking up felt like betrayal.

I shove the dream down like everything else and ...