Laughter clawed its way into my sleep, dragging me into a world of bright lights and unfamiliar faces. I blinked, momentarily disoriented, before the dream solidified–a grand ballroom, crystal chandeliers glinting like fallen stars. Music thrummed through the floorboards, vibrating against my feet, even though I wasn't actually touching the ground. I was an observer, a ghost at a party I didn't remember planning to attend.
Yet, all eyes were on me. Conversations died down, replaced by a hush that stretched across the room like a tangible sheet. I felt exposed, a raw nerve under a spotlight. My gaze darted, searching for an explanation, for a friendly face, but there were none. An icy dread coiled in my stomach, tightening with every passing second.
And then I saw him. Alexander.