Volume 25 Chapter 5 Part2 (1/2)
”Noooo - ”
The shriek echoed in the dead of night.
”Mama, mama.”
Touko rushed over, turning on the bedside light and shaking her mother by the shoulder until she awoke.
”Haa &h.e.l.lip; haa &h.e.l.lip; haa.”
Ragged breathing. Her eyes were open, but she hadn't fully woken up. She'd tripped on the boundary between dreams and reality and was struggling forwards.
”It's alright. It was just a dream.”
Touko stroked her mother's cheek, fixing her errant strands of hair.
”It's alright.”
She repeated. Then, as though she were gradually understanding the state of affairs, her mom took a couple of deep breaths before mumbling, as though for confirmation:
”Touko-chan.”
”That's right.”
Touko affirmed. Then she repeated, ”It's alright,” once more. This one wasn't for her mother - she said it to calm herself down.
”You're really sweating.”
There should be a towel somewhere in the room. When Touko stood up from the bedside, she was grabbed by her pajama sleeve.
”Don't go.”
”Mama &h.e.l.lip; ”
Touko went back to kneeling down on the carpet.
”Don't go. Don't leave mama behind. Please.”
She implored her daughter, tears in her eyes.
She was still in thrall to her dream. So she was terrified of being alone.