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The day begins early in the morning, filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I can feel it bubbling just beneath the surface, but I hide it well under my usual calm demeanor.
The bus ride is mostly quiet, filled with the light chatter of my classmates. I lean back in my seat, feeling the gentle motion of the bus and the soft murmur of conversations around me, and decide to take a nap to pass the time.
As I drift off, I enter a vivid dream. I find myself surrounded by water, sinking deeper and deeper into the dark, murky depths of a lake. My limbs feel heavy, and panic grips me as I try to reach for the surface but can't.
It feels as if I'm drowning—struggling to breathe, my vision blurred by the water. The sensation is overwhelming and terrifying.
Just as I feel myself about to lose consciousness in the dream, I jolt awake.
My heart is racing, and beads of sweat cling to my forehead. I take a moment to compose myself, realizing it was just a dream. Looking around, I see that the bus has stopped—we've arrived at our destination.
The sun is high, indicating it's noon. The group begins to disembark, settling into the beautiful lakeside area, surrounded by towering trees and the serene sound of water gently lapping against the shore.
I take a deep breath, calming my nerves from the unsettling dream, and decide to relax with my friends. Everyone seems in good spirits, eager to explore the area and enjoy the afternoon.
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After lunch, the group splits off to enjoy different activities. Some students play volleyball, while others wade in the shallow end of the lake, laughing and splashing each other.
Shoma, feeling tired from the excitement, sits near the shore, watching everyone. I'm further away, taking in the peaceful scenery.
Suddenly, Shoma stands up to stretch. She steps onto a rock near the water's edge, but her foot slips. With a soft gasp, she falls into the lake with a splash.
As the initial shock of seeing Shoma fall into the lake sinks in, time seems to freeze for me. My breath catches, and my mind races in disbelief.
I watch, my heart pounding, as Shoma struggles in the water, her body growing weaker with each passing second. The frantic voices and panicked movements around me become a distant blur, fading into the background. All I can focus on is Shoma.
I can't lose her.
The thought hits me with such force that it feels like my entire world is crumbling. Shoma has become one of my most precious friends, someone who has stood by me during difficult times, offering kindness and support without expecting anything in return.
The idea of losing her—of never seeing her smile or hearing her playful laugh again—is too much to bear. The fear of that loss grips my heart, overwhelming me.
Shoma... I can't let this happen.
My chest tightens with panic, but beneath it all, there's a rising sense of determination. I know I have to do something. I can't just stand here, frozen in fear, while my friend is in danger. My legs, powered by a surge of adrenaline, move on their own, carrying me toward the lake.
I dive into the water, cutting through the cold lake. My mind is focused on only one thing—saving Shoma. I swim with powerful strokes, the water dragging at my clothes, but I push on.
I reach Shoma just in time, grabbing her under the arms and pulling her toward the shore, kicking my legs to keep us both afloat.
Once we reach the shallows, I pull Shoma onto the shore. She isn't breathing properly, her face pale and motionless. Panic threatens to overtake me again, but I force myself to stay calm.
I lean down, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, pressing my hands against Shoma's chest, trying to get her to breathe again.
After a few tense moments, Shoma coughs violently, water spilling from her mouth as she gasps for air.
I sit back, completely exhausted but overwhelmed with relief. Shoma slowly sits up, still coughing but breathing now. She looks at me with a weak smile, her usual playful energy dimmed but still present.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," I say, my voice shaky with both fear and relief.
Shoma chuckles, though she's still catching her breath. "Of course... I'll never do that again."
The tension begins to dissipate as the other students, finally over their shock, rush to check on Shoma. I stay close to her, feeling an unexpected bond strengthen between us. However, a nagging thought lingers in the back of my mind.
As I help Shoma to her feet, my gaze drifts back to the lake, where ripples still disturb the surface. The moment seems to connect with my dream—both involving water, both evoking the same helplessness.
I frown slightly, unsettled by the strange coincidence. It's almost as if my dream was warning me...
My skin prickles with a strange sensation, as if someone is watching me from a distance. I turn around sharply, scanning the area. But there's no one there—just the quiet, peaceful surroundings of the lakeside.
The feeling vanishes as quickly as it came, but the unease remains.
Who was that? I wonder for a moment, but then I shake it off. Shoma is safe, and that's what matters. I turn my attention back to my friend, pushing the unsettling thoughts aside as we rejoin the group.
---
Though I try to enjoy the rest of the day, the dream and the lake incident stay at the forefront of my mind.
I can't help but feel like the two are connected somehow, but I don't understand how or why. And that strange feeling of being watched... Was it just my imagination?
As the afternoon wears on, I force myself to focus on Shoma's laughter and the light-hearted chatter of our classmates, but the weight of the day—both real and dreamt—refuses to fully leave me.
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YOU ARE READING
Echoes of Fractured Realities: The Convergence Beyond Worlds
FantasyKira Stukumi is a seemingly ordinary teenager, but her vivid dreams reveal a shocking truth: she is connected to another dimension where an alternate version of herself exists. As strange events blur the lines between her world and this parallel rea...
