“Ms. Raven, it’s me, Carl. Wake up.”
I finally open my eyes and come back to reality to see Carl’s concerned face above me.
“You were shouting out in your sleep, so I came running,” he says.
Shivers rack my body and I pull the covers up to my chin, even though I know they aren’t from feeling cold.
“I’m sorry I woke you, Carl. It was just a bad dream,” I explain, embarrassment heating my cheeks.
“You called out for him,” he replies. I don’t know how to respond so I just stay quiet for a moment.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” I say as he turns to leave. He looks back at me with a sympathetic expression.
“I know you miss him, Ms. Raven. And I’m pretty sure he misses you too. I hope he comes to his senses soon, because I hate seeing you like this,” he tells me.
“Seeing me like what?” I inquire.
“Sad...lost...” he trails off.
I close my eyes against threatening tears and I hear the soft click of the secret door as he leaves me exactly how he found me.