Dreams of the Past

That night, Thea had a dream—a vivid memory from the past, pulling her back to a moment she thought she had buried away.

She saw herself on their first official date with Adrian. The warm lights of the cafe bathed them in a soft glow as she sipped her coffee, her little black dress hugging her frame perfectly. Adrian sat across from her, watching her with that quiet intensity she had come to recognize over time.

He reached for her hand across the table, his fingers brushing over her knuckles before interlacing them with hers. A spark ignited in her chest, and for the first time, she let herself fully acknowledge the pull she felt toward him.

The scene shifted, and she was suddenly outside a restaurant, the night air crisp against her skin. She had been partying with Silvia and a few others, the alcohol buzzing in her veins. As she stepped outside, she spotted Adrian waiting for a cab nearby. Without thinking, she walked straight to him, her fingers tugging at his tie.

Before he could say a word, she pulled him down and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was heady, charged with the energy of the night. He hesitated for a second before wrapping his arms around her, deepening the kiss.

Thea's dream flickered, and when she opened her eyes, she was no longer outside but in an unfamiliar bed. Her head pounded slightly as she took in her surroundings—the expensive hotel sheets, the scattered clothes on the floor. Adrian was lying beside her, his bare chest rising and falling in deep slumber. Her dress lay crumpled on the floor, the events of the night before slowly piecing themselves together in her mind.

Her breath hitched. What had she done?

As panic swelled within her, Adrian stirred, his groggy eyes meeting hers. Noticing her distress, he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his face before speaking in a calm, reassuring tone.

"Nothing happened, Thea," he said firmly. "You were drunk, you vomited on your dress, and you refused to wear anything but my shirt. That's all. I just brought you here to keep you safe."

Relief crashed over her, mixed with an odd sense of disappointment she couldn't quite name. She looked away, embarrassed. "Oh. I… I'm sorry."

Adrian smirked lightly, shaking his head. "No need to be. But next time, try not to pull a guy by his tie and kiss him senseless unless you mean it."

Her cheeks burned as she buried her face in her hands, groaning. "I'm never drinking again."

Adrian chuckled. "Somehow, I don't believe that."

Thea awoke with a start, her breath uneven, her eyes wet. She wiped them hastily, exhaling deeply to steady herself. It was just a dream a memory, but still, it had felt so real, so vivid.

Shaking off the lingering emotions, she got out of bed and went about her morning routine. She needed to focus, to push away the ghosts of the past.

Dressed and composed, she grabbed her keys and drove to the university, determined to bury the past where it belonged.