Chapter 1: The Price of a Dream

It would have been a backpack and Aurora Bennett wouldn't be standing outside of the university finance office. Laughter filled the hall as students excitedly talked about the new semester but not a single laugh could be heard. But her shaking hands never took their eyes off the notice.

**Outstanding Tuition Balance.**

She will have 72 hours to pay the tuition remaining to be paid, if she does not, the enrollment will be cancelled.

"Miss Bennett?"

The voice of the finance officer shouted out to her.

The woman was extremely apologetic, "I am so sorry. There is a doubling of the date of payment for this semester and in case of failure to pay the balance within the next 3 days, students shall be automatically dropped out of classes.

Aurora was able to make a smile but it did not make it to her eyes.

"I understand."

It didn't take long for her to see tears in her eyes before she walked off.

They talked about parties on the weekend, designer clothes, and over-priced holidays, while going about their daily routines. Aurora secretly checked her bank account.

This was all they had to spend on food for one week.

She shut her eyes.

She had been trying and working at a café, high school tutor and at campus library at night for months, but it wasn't enough.

Her phone vibrated.

**City Heart Hospital.**

Her heart skipped.

"Hello?"

“Yes, he said.“Miss Bennett?” he asked. “No sir, I am not,” he said to her. The doctors have just done the latest tests and we will follow-up with them tomorrow and discuss treatment with the doctor.

Aurora swallowed hard.

"Has... has her condition gotten worse?"

A quiet surrounding in the room.

All will be explained to you tomorrow by the doctor.

The call ended.

The fall sky set the scene as Aurora stood (frozen) in the presence of the weight of the world.

No tuition.

No savings.

A sick mother.

No dad to turn to.

Only herself.

She inhaled deeply, dried her eyes and headed straight to the café to which she worked the evenings.

For six agonising hours she lugged trays, and smiled at the rude customers, not caring about the agony in her feet. She put all of the tips she got that were given to her in a tiny envelope in her locker.

However, it was not sufficient even back then!

When Aurora returned to her tiny apartment it was well after midnight.

On awakening her mother was snoring on the couch in her blanket and had weak shoulders.

After returning to her room, Aurora very gently covered her with another blanket.

She read the notice of tuition.

“What can I do? “Well, I don't know, she whispered.

Then after a while, her soul died.

Darkness surrounded her...

Then warmth.

Next she came to a peaceful garden, under silver moonlight.

Footsteps approached.

There was a tall man standing in front of her, wearing a dark suit. She could only see his face and He was consoling her.

He approached her and made her squeeze out the moisture from her wet eyes.

He said to her quietly in a gentle voice, "You have cried enough.

His voice was deep, tender and it wrapped her aching heart.

Don't be sad forever, Aurora.

She froze.

Her breath caught.

She never had revealed her name to him.

As she was barely out of breath, the garden began to fade away.

Lastly, when the morning began to pierce through Auroras window, the remaining one got jolted as her heart started beating faster and faster.

This was her first time being called her name in her dream by the man.