Chapter 1966

In the face of danger, all they could do was carve a path forward with their flesh and blood.

"Lillian, being your mom must be great," Debra said, taking Marion's hand.

Their fingers were interlocked as they marched fearlessly into the valley.

When I woke up, sunlight streamed through the window, stinging my eyes. I shielded them with my hand.

Solomon was still asleep. I shook his shoulder. "Solomon, wake up."

He stirred, rubbing his eyes, and saw the broad daylight outside.

Last night, I swiped Jordan's potion. I hadn't expected it to spark such a wild dream.

Solomon and I sat in silence for a full minute.

"You dreamed of it too?" I asked.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"We had the same dream?"

"Yeah."

"That's freaking weird."

I hadn't imagined a tiny vial could do this. I'd thought it was just a sleeping aid.

Just then, Debra's voice came from outside.

I bolted out of bed and opened the door. There sat my parents in the living room downstairs.

Marion's brow furrowed when he saw Solomon and me emerge together.

I suddenly pictured the dream where

he radiated fierceness in that military uniform. Now, though,

well preserved he had crow

steet

and a few gray hairs at his temples. s

Debra was the same. Time wasn't easy on anyone.

"What were you two messing with last night? Jordan blew up my phone in the morning."

"How did he know we..." I clamped my mouth shut. For original chapters go to f͟i͟n͟d͟n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟.net

Jordan must've noticed the potion was gone and came to bust us. He should have just woken us instead of involving my parents.

"We were just beat, so we crashed." I shuffled downstairs, shooting Solomon a look to play along.

"Yeah. Just slept," he echoed.

Debra poked my forehead. "When are you gonna grow up? Didn't you see us

pass out at the table? You could've at least gotten us home."

I almost argued that they were tough enough to sleep on the floor, but she rubbed her sore back.

Marion stepped in to support her.

That was when I realized my parents

were old. They were no longer the invincible youths from my dream They weren't unbreakable anymore. s

My nose stung. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Debra pinched my nose. "Who is gonna tame you, you little firecracker?"

He'd better be as handsome as

Marion, as sharp as Juan, as rich as Drake and as tough as Randy, had

alteady told her the answer

dream.

s

the

"Mom, Dad, I'm so lucky to have you," I said. "Being your daughter is the best thing in the world."