New York, Mia

Amidst the chaos, I could hear distant voices. They seemed to be calling out my name, a faint murmur in the background. For some reason, I couldn’t seem to open my eyes, as if I were trapped in a state of half-consciousness. Panic began to well up within me. What was happening? Why couldn’t I wake up fully?

The voices persisted, growing slightly louder, but they remained muffled, as though they were separated from me by some insurmountable barrier. I strained to make out the words, and they did indeed sound like my name being called. It was a disorienting experience, as if I were caught in...