The Dream

Elle's POV

“Ahhhhh!” The scream tore through my throat as I quickly pulled my body off the bed, panting hard and staring into the empty space.

“My goodness, Elle, are you okay? Did you have that nightmare again?” my roommate asked, already familiar with my small madness.

I closed my eyes, pushing out a small exhale before finally getting myself back. “I’m so sorry to disturb you. Yes, I did.”

“Oh no, it’s fine. I was just worried about you. It didn’t used to be this frequent. It’s getting worse.”

I gave a faint smile, pulling the covers off me.

“At this point, I don’t think it’s anything simple, it’s good to have been a traumatic event that happened in your childhood. Maybe you should ask your dad when you get home. You’re still going home later today, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, I got another call last night that my father isn’t getting any better. I definitely have to get home today.”

“Well, I’m sorry about that. I hope he gets better.”

My smile grows a bit wider. “Thank you. I hope so too.”

I walked towards my closet and started putting my things together. 

“So does that mean you’ll be back soon?”

“Why? You want to throw a party in our room?”

She let out a small laughter. “No, I just want to know what to say to any one who asks.”

“Oh.” I shrugged. “Well yeah, I believe I should.”

As I put my things together, my mind continues thinking hard about my dream and how frequent it was getting. 

It had been years since I’d been having it and it didn’t even seem like it was ready to stop. 

I would ask my father about it but little things always spooked him up. 

He didn’t even like me leaving college for the holidays with the excuse that the road wasn’t good enough and would instead book a motel around my school and make us spend it there. 

I didn’t know what the reason was but his overprotectiveness was getting unbelievably. Even when he fell sick, he never told me about it. When I realized we hadn’t spoken for days, I called him and his neighbor picked up and told me about it. 

I wasn’t all that surprised. I knew he refused to tell me so I wouldn’t come back home and at first, I wanted to commit to his wish. But unfortunately for him, I got another report that he wasn’t feeling better so I knew I had to go back home.

And my roommate is right. I decided I could use the opportunity to bring up the nightmares to him. There might be more to it than meets the eye. 

My roommate followed me to the park, encouraging me with the usual words people use when your parents are sick.

“Thank you, Nila. I believe I’ll be back soon.”

She smiled. “Well, I hope so. Remember we still have that party slated for next weekend.”

“Yes, I do.”

“And I hope you slathered sunscreen all over yourself today, you always complain about sunburn and it seems so hot today,” this was followed with a small laughter.

“Yes, I bathed myself in sunscreen,” I replied in similar fashion.

“Good.”

We threw our arms over each other before I turned and got into the bus.

Nila was not just a roommate, she was a great friend. She had been a major part of my life since I got into college and although I had a few others I related with, she was the only one I could ever tag as a friend. 

Other people there was something weird about me—an accusation I wasn't aware of but not Nila. She always stood by me. So as my bus skidded down the long run, I found myself peaking backwards even though there was already a great distance between us. 

When the bus finally pulled into my community, a place bubbling with people and activities, I stepped out gently, drawing in the air of the arena.  

I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. It was nothing like my father painted it to be. He had painted it like the townspeople were involved with questionable activities but they couldn’t be farther from that reality. 

They looked like very happy people.  

What harm could they possibly be involved with?

I walked towards the edge of the water, looking over the vast ocean. 

“You…must be Elle, Mr Cullen’s daughter?”

The unfamiliar voice called from behind me. 

I turned sharply, only to be met with an older woman, smiling at me. For a moment, I stood, utterly stunned by her appearance.

I managed a warm smile of my own. “Uhh, yes. I am.”

“Oh goodness.” She laughed a little. 

“I’m your father’s neighbor. The one that called you about his illness. I’m here to pick you up.”

“Ohhh,” my eyes widened a little as I stretched my hand out to her. Not that I had any special thought of her appearance but she was nothing like I would have ever imagined. 

Although she spoke like a much older woman, her appearance looked much younger, nothing more than thirty. She also has this golden long hair that flowed down way beyond her waist. 

Enchantingly enough, her eyes carried the same color. 

Dazzling gold that caught the sunlight steadily.

She was a beautiful woman. 

For a moment, I couldn’t help thinking she was the reason my father was against my coming back home. 

Perhaps, they were lovers and he didn’t know how to break it to me. 

Afterall, it had always been just the two of us for the longest 

 “I remember now. Nice to meet you. Mara, right?” I said, smiling a little too much. 

She nodded. “Yes dear. Welcome back home. I hear it’s been a while since you were here?”

“Ahh yes, unfortunately my father doesn’t like me coming home. Only heaven knows what he’s afraid of.”

“Yeah, it puzzles me too. But I'm sure he’ll be ecstatic to see you. You're all he ever talks about to anyone who cares to listen.”

My heart melted but I wasn't surprised. My father never tried to hide his love for me. He confessed and showed it at the slightest chance.

“Well, I hope. Is he getting any better though?”

“Of course dear, he is. Especially with your presence. Why don’t you come this way? The car is just upfront.”

“Thanks.”