Chapter 7: Waking Up—But Who Am I?

The dim room was filled with the scent of sandalwood.

The air was heavy with the sweet, smoky smell of incense. Shadows danced on the walls, flickering in the soft light of a single lamp.

White noise from a phone played softly near my head.

A recording of rain played quietly, mingling with the steady hum of the air conditioner. It almost masked the tension in the room, but not quite.

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan sat nearby, anxious and silent.

Mom wrung her hands in her lap, her eyes fixed on the floor. Dad paced back and forth, glancing at the clock every few seconds. The air was heavy with dread.

Chris barely dared to breathe, staring at me on the lounge chair.

He sat on the edge of his seat, knuckles white. Every so often, he’d glance at my face, searching for any sign that I was waking up.

Time ticked by.

The only sounds were the ticking clock and the rain outside. Every minute felt like an hour.

The hypnotherapist whispered in my ear.

Her voice was low and melodic, weaving through my dreams like a lullaby. Her words curled around me, tugging me toward the surface, then letting me drift again.

At some point, it started raining outside.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, the windows rattling with each gust of wind. The storm outside mirrored the chaos inside the room.

As the first bolt of lightning flashed, I slowly opened my eyes.

The world came back in pieces—light, sound, the taste of fear on my tongue. Everything felt sharp and strange, like I’d been dropped into someone else’s life.

Thunder rumbled. I sat up, dazed.

My head spun as I tried to make sense of where I was. The faces around me swam in and out of focus.

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan and Chris surrounded me, trying to look calm, but their trembling hands betrayed their fear and hope.

Mom’s lips quivered, her hands clasped so tight her knuckles were white. Dad stood behind her, his face pale. Chris hovered nearby, his eyes wide and anxious.

They were terrified. Scared they’d be disappointed. Scared the person who woke up wasn’t the one they wanted.

The silence stretched, thick with anticipation. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for a sign, a word, anything.

I looked at the three nervous faces. Gradually, my confusion cleared.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. The pieces clicked into place, and I knew exactly who I was.

I burst out laughing. My voice was bright and full of life, cutting through the gloom like sunlight.

The sound surprised even me. It echoed off the walls, shattering the tension in the room. For a moment, everything felt possible again.

"Mom, Dad, why are you all so nervous? What day is it? Where are we? Chris, why do you look so exhausted?"

I grinned at them, my voice light and teasing. For the first time in a long while, I felt in control—alive, and undeniably myself.