MARIA POV
The world was hazy, a dreamscape suspended between beauty and terror. I was barefoot on a beach I didn’t recognize, the sand soft and cool beneath my feet. The waves lapped gently at the shore, their rhythm soothing. The sky above was streaked with hues of lavender and gold, and for a moment, I felt peace.
Then I saw them—Dax and Henry. They stood at the edge of the water, their faces lit by the strange glow of the sky. Dax was grinning, his hand outstretched toward me. Henry stood beside him, his expression softer, almost shy, as though he wasn’t sure I’d take the step toward them.
“Come on, Maria,” Dax called, his voice rich and warm. “We’re waiting for you.”
Something in me ached at the sound of his voice. I wanted to go to them, to run into their arms, but when I tried to
