Chapter 44: Golden Murdock (7)
Riley slowly opened her eyes in a daze.
Her consciousness returned in a hazy swirl, but she couldn’t begin to guess where she was—or how much time had passed.
Strangely, though, she didn’t feel uneasy.
On the contrary, a rare, peaceful calm wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
Soft sunlight poured gently over her face and body.
Plush grass cradled her back with a comforting touch.
A spring breeze drifted by now and then, ruffling her hair lightly.
As she looked around, she realized she was lying beneath a cherry blossom tree.
Petals, soft and pink, floated down in the wind, settling quietly on her knees and shoulders.
Riley smiled as she watched the petals dance through the air.
“If this is a dream, then it’s one I never want to wake up from...”
She murmured to herself, reaching through the fog of her memories.