Keri's POV.
When I woke up, my head was throbbing. I didn't know why, but I wasn't worried. Based off experience, I knew it would fade within a few hours. What I was worried about was Dan. Or, more specifically, how I was going to work with him, after what he had done. I knew I wasn't supposed to let it bother me, but… it hurt so much. I felt complete when we were together. I felt, wanted, appreciated. I would have gone as far to say that I loved him. Obviously, the feelings were not mutual.
I sighed and got up, then frowned. My door was open again. "Mum, we really need to get my door fixed!" It kept opening in the middle of the night, and at this point, with so much on my mind, it was bothering me a lot more than it should have. I sighed again and closed my eyes.
"Today is a new day. Today is a new day. Today is a-"
"Keri?" I sat up and tried to smile at my mother, who was standing in the doorway.
"Yeah?" I stood and started getting clothes from my wardrobe.
"I had the carpenter take a look at your door while you were at school yesterday. He said there was nothing wrong with it." I stopped and frowned at her.
"So how is it opening? You know me, I have to sleep with the door closed, it makes me feel secure."
"I know, Honey, but what whatever is happening, it isn't to do with the door being faulty."
"So, what is it?"
"Maybe you're sleep walking?" I scoffed at her answer.
"Nah, I haven't sleep walked in forever."
"Are the nightmares coming back?"
The mere mention of the nightmares made my head start to throb harder. Memories of what KORPS had done to me. Images of pristine white images, masked faces, sharp medical instruments. Pain.
After being embraced by a loving family, the nightmares had died away. I hadn't had them since and that was something to be appreciative of.
"Keri?"
"What?"
"I just thought that maybe if the bad memories were coming back, you might be sleep walking again."
"Mum, the last time a walked in my sleep was a few months after my adoption and they went away once I settled in here."
"I just thought-"
"Look," I cut in, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "I have to go to school, but we can talk about this later, right?" I didn't wait for her to answer, just threw on a jumper, scooped my up bag and pushed past her. She didn't say anything, as I went down the stairs and out the front door.
I tried not to think about the conversation as I stumbled down the street but the tears were already stinging my eyes, memories swamping my head. I blinked furiously, but my vision was already blurring. All I wanted was a hug and the only one I wanted it from wasn't willing anymore.