The Dream That Cut

Sara collapsed to the floor, her face pressed against the cold stone; water dripped slowly from the tap. A ring disappeared down the drain, the broken pendant curled beside her head. Sleep pulled her inside before she could blink.

Sunlight streamed through the dusty curtains, splitting the peeling yellow paint across the room as she stood there in that dilapidated apartment. In the small kitchen, her mother twirled, her apron billowing around her waist, tossing golden pancake