This Had to Be a Dream!

When warm, golden sunlight slipped through the gap in the drawn curtains and fell upon Louise's delicate forehead, gradually moving downward over her long eyelashes, the harsh interplay of light and shadow made her uncomfortable even in her sleep. Her eyelids trembled slightly, and Louise finally opened her eyes slowly.

Her foggy head and lack of sleep kept Louise from fully controlling her body. After several failed attempts, she finally propped herself up with her arms and sat up from the soft bed.

The room was quiet. Apart from her own breathing, there was only the faint, rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. Dust motes danced in the tangible-looking shaft of golden light streaming into the room, lending the scene a peaceful, timeworn air.

A few strands of her hair hung from the corner of Louise's lips as she stared blankly through the gap in the curtains at the world outside, drowned in pallid light.

Whoosh!

At some point, Louise suddenly threw off the covers. She looked down at herself in alarm—her nightgown was intact! Her coat was still wrapped around her! Her body... After carefully checking herself, she found nothing unusual!

She looked anxiously toward the sofa beside the bed. Her underwear, which she had changed out of after washing up the night before, was piled there—yes, this was her room!

Louise let out a heavy sigh of relief. Her tension made the tips of her long, pale fingers tremble slightly. She pressed her lips tightly together and stared fixedly at her fingertips as her cheeks gradually changed from pale to crimson. Then, suddenly—

"Ah!"

A shrill scream that seemed to pierce the heavens suddenly rang through the silent room!

Whoosh— Louise abruptly pulled the covers back over herself and curled up beneath them again, as though only a