David jolted awake, his scream of "Stop!" tearing through the silence as his chest heaved with heavy breaths. His heart pounded wildly, the rhythm deafening in his ears. He pushed his damp hair back with trembling hands, his eyes darting frantically as though searching for unseen threats.
The darkness around him was absolute, suffocating yet strangely familiar. He exhaled shakily, forcing himself to steady his breathing.
Despite the oppressive blackness, David wasn't afraid. He had always found a peculiar comfort in the void, a sanctuary of sorts where no one could touch him. He took a deep breath, his chest tightening as he tried to piece together the fragments of his fractured thoughts.
Yet, amidst the chaos in his mind, a solitary tear traced down his cheek. The phantom sensation of his mother's touch lingered, painfully vivid. His hand reached up to wipe the tear away, his voice barely above a whisper, "It wasn't her. That wasn't her..."
