Chapter 85: A Terrible Dream
Galatea woke with a start, her heart racing from the nightmare she had just experienced. The vivid images of her wedding, Alaric’s loving embrace, and the crushing rejection that followed still lingered in her mind, leaving her shaken. The harsh words of Mrs. Marigold echoed in her ears, accusing her of being a liar, a fraud, and unworthy of Alaric’s love. It was all too real, and for a moment, she wondered if the nightmare had been a glimpse of her future.
The fear and embarrassment she had felt in her dream bled into her waking life, leaving her in turmoil. She couldn’t shake the haunting words, the accusations that pierced through her defenses and threatened to unravel the fragile hope she had built with Alaric. Could he ever truly accept her past? Or would it always come between them, as it had in her dream?
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breath. It was just a dream, she told herself. But even as she repeated the words, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her past pressing down on her shoulders.
Before she could sink deeper into her thoughts, a voice interrupted her.
“What’s wrong, Mommy? Did you have a bad dream?”
Galatea’s eyes flew open. It was Elisa. The voice sounded like a sweet melody, but in her dazed state, it took Galatea a moment to process. Elisa was supposed to be living the simple, peaceful life they had planned for her. What was she doing here?
She sat up quickly, disoriented, and glanced around the room, realizing that she was in her own bed, not the one in her dream. The familiar surroundings of her room grounded her, but the lingering dread of the nightmare remained.
Elisa was standing at the door, her eyes wide with concern. “Mommy, you were calling out in your sleep. Are you okay?”
Galatea took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Just a bad dream, that’s all.”
Elisa didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press the matter further. She padded over to the bed and climbed up beside her mother.
Galatea pulled her close, feeling the warmth of Elisa’s small body against hers. For a moment, the fear from her dream seemed to fade, replaced by the comfort of her daughter’s presence. Still, her mind remained restless. She couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was fragile—her relationship with Alaric, her past, and even her own sense of self. The nightmare had only amplified her fears, and she wasn’t sure how to face them.
“I’m here, Mommy,” Elisa whispered, sensing her mother’s unease.
Galatea hugged her tighter, grateful for her daughter’s love. But deep down, the weight of the past hung heavy on her heart. Would she ever be able to escape it? Could she ever truly be happy with Alaric, knowing what she had been through?
The questions lingered in her mind as she held Elisa close, but for now, she chose to push them aside. She couldn’t afford to dwell on the past. Not today.
“Thank you, Elisa,” Galatea whispered, kissing her daughter’s forehead. “You always know how to make me feel better.”
Elisa smiled, her innocence a balm for Galatea’s troubled soul. “I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” Galatea replied, her heart aching with a mix of love and regret.
But as much as she wanted to leave her nightmares behind, she knew the path ahead would not be so simple. The storm within her was far from over.