She opened her eyes to the scent of burning wood and the faint warmth of sunlight spilling through the curtains. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around the room. It was her childhood bedroom. The faded wallpaper of yellow daisies, the wooden desk cluttered with forgotten trinkets, and the stuffed bear sitting on her bed as though it had been waiting for her all this time.

But that couldnt be right. This house had burned down years ago. She had watched it collapse into a smoldering heap with her family inside.

“Mom?” -she called, her voice trembling

“Dad?”

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Her mother appeared, smiling softly.

“Youre awake! I was just about to call you for breakfast.”

Her father followed close behind, holding a newspaper as he always used to, nodding to her with that same quiet authority. Her younger brother bounded into the room, grinning ear to ear.

“Youre finally awake! Wanna play together later?” -he chirped

Tears welled up in her eyes. It was impossible, but there they were, standing before her as if nothing had happened. As if the fire had never taken them away.

“How... how is this happening?” -she whispered, clutching her head. The memories of the fire were vivid, etched into her mind like scars

Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder, warm and real.

“Youve been under so much stress. Maybe you just needed some time back home, with us.”

Something about her tone was off. Too calm. Too rehearsed. She pulled away, her heart pounding.

Days passed, and the impossibility of it all began to gnaw at her. Her family acted as though nothing was wrong, but cracks in the illusion started to show. The clock in the living room always struck the same time. The sun never fully set. And when she ventured too far from the house, she found herself back at the front door, no matter which direction she walked.

“Why are you acting so strange, honey?” -her mother asked one evening as they sat at the dinner table

“Strange?” -she repeated, her voice shaking

“Youre all dead! I saw the fire! You all died in it!”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Her family exchanged glances. Her father set down his fork with a sigh.

“Youve been having bad dreams again, havent you?”

Her brother laughed nervously.

“Its okay, sis. Youre just tired.”

She stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor.

“No. This isnt real. None of this is real!”

Her mothers expression hardened, a flicker of something dark passing through her eyes.

“Why would you want to leave us? Were your family. Dont you want to stay?”

The warmth in the room grew oppressive, suffocating. She backed away, her mind racing. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick with smoke. Smoke. The fire.

“What is this place?!” -she demanded, her voice breaking

Her father rose from his seat, his shadow stretching unnaturally across the room.

“You dont need to worry about that. Just stay here with us. Youll be safe.”

She turned and ran.

The house became a maze, hallways twisting and looping back on themselves. Doors led to nowhere or opened into rooms that shouldnt exist. Her familys voices echoed behind her, calling her name, pleading with her to return.

She stumbled into the living room, gasping for air. The clock was frozen at the same time as always. She grabbed it, smashing it to the floor.

For a moment, the world flickered.

She saw flashes of hospital monitors, a ventilator and a tv on the wall. Pain stabbed through her head, and she collapsed to her knees.

“You never left.” -her mothers voice said, now cold and hollow

“Why cant you just stay?”

Her family appeared around her, their faces no longer warm but twisted and shadowed. She realized then that they werent her family at all. They were fragments of her mind, clinging to her, keeping her trapped.

“Youre not real...” -she whispered, tears streaming down her face

The shadows reached for her, but she closed her eyes and focused on the faint beeping of the heart monitor she had glimpsed. She focused on the pain, the reality beyond this dream.

“Wake up.” -she told herself. “Wake up.” “Wake up.” “Wake up.” “Wake up.” “Wake up.” “Wake up.” “Wake up.”

The warmth of the sunlight disappeared, replaced by a sterile chill. She opened her eyes to blinding white lights and the muffled hum of machines. Her body felt heavy, weak, but she was alive.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she looked around the hospital room. Her real family was gone. The fire had taken them. But she had survived, even if part of her wished she hadnt.

“I-ill live for them...” -she whispered, her voice raw but resolute.

“Ill carry their memory with me... I wont ever forget them.” -she closed her eyes, letting the weight of her grief settle over her. It was heavy, but it was real. Finally, she could breathe.

___

The mind is a powerful thing, capable of creating both prisons and sanctuaries. To truly heal, one must face the pain of reality rather than hide in the comfort of illusion. Acceptance is the first step toward freedom.