BRIANNA

“Brianna… Wake up.” I felt a tap on my shoulder, but I only snuggled deeper into the soft pillow.

“Five more minutes, mom…” I moaned, barely aware of the world around me. Then, I heard a deep chuckle that didn’t sound like my mother’s.

“Wake up, we’re running late.” The voice came again, accompanied by a gentle shake. Slowly, I peeled my eyes open, feeling a bit disoriented. It took a second to register that I wasn’t at home. The person waking me wasn’t my ...