The transition back to reality felt like being slammed against a wall. Kira let out a sharp cry that tore through the quiet living room of the cottage. Her hand flew back as if she had touched a live wire, breaking the contact with Maya.
The force of the sudden movement sent her stumbling backward until her legs gave out, and she fell hard onto the floor, landing on her butt.
She sat there, her breath coming in shallow gasps, staring up at Maya in stunned disbelief. The world around her felt fuzzy and distant, but the images inside her head were crystal clear. Tears had already soaked her cheeks, warm and salty, but she didn't even feel them.
Her heart pounded against her ribs like a drum, echoing the horror of what she had just seen. The memories weren't just flashes; they were a floodgate that had finally burst open. Her brain had suppressed them for years, burying the trauma under layers of horrifying nightmare. But now, she knew they were all real.
Rolf.
