Chapter Fourteen: Late Night Call

“Oh, so you’ve met him?” Jean’s voice was teasing, almost as though she had expected this to happen all along. She had already heard about Cara's encounter with the man who had helped her at the hospital, and it seemed like she was just waiting for the confirmation. Her eyes sparkled, eager for more details.

“So, what about him? Isn’t he the guy from your dream? Do you remember him? You know, the sketch?” Jean asked, her voice suddenly serious as she pulled out her phone and showed Cara a picture.

Cara blinked, caught off guard. “What sketch? What are you talking about?” she asked, confused. She had no recollection of anything like that. Dream? Sketch? She stared at the phone screen, trying to make sense of it all.

The photo Jean had shown her was a rough sketch of a man, and it was unmistakably him—the man she had just met, Vince. The way he looked in the sketch was almost identical to the real-life version of him. It was as if the universe was playing a cruel game with her mind, pulling together all the strange threads of her life. But the more Cara thought about it, the more she felt like she was losing her grip on reality.

Cara’s head spun as she tried to process the information. “I... I don’t remember anything about that dream you keep mentioning. And I definitely don’t remember drawing this sketch. I don’t even remember telling you about it... Jean, I’m honestly blank. I don’t recall anything you’ve said.”

Jean sighed, clearly disappointed but trying to hide it. “Aren’t you still having those dreams? How was your sleep last night? Did you dream about anything?”

Cara shook her head, her face clouded with confusion. “I don’t know… I’m feeling fine, actually. Normal. But there’s something missing, like there’s a gap in my mind. I’ve been dreaming, yes, but it’s like I wake up and can’t grasp any of it. All I know is that I had a peaceful dream last night... and one in the hospital too, but I can’t recall the details.”

Jean frowned, tapping her fingers on her phone as if thinking deeply. “So, you’re not remembering anything clearly? Not like before?”

Cara shook her head again. “I guess... not like I used to. I mean, dreams are just that—dreams. Once we wake up, they fade away, right? That’s normal.”

Jean looked at her with concern, but Cara could feel the weight of her friend's gaze. “I just find it strange that you can’t remember anything about what you told me before. It’s almost like it’s all gone.” Jean’s voice softened. “It was so fascinating.”

Cara didn’t know how to respond. She felt guilty about not being able to remember, but she couldn’t do anything about it. What was the point in trying to remember something that seemed to be slipping further away with each passing day? “I don’t care about any of that anymore. I feel good now, especially after resting in the hospital. I’m just moving on from it.” Her voice was firm, but she could feel the subtle unease bubbling under the surface.

Jean didn’t respond immediately, her expression unreadable, but Cara could sense the unspoken questions lingering between them.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, interrupting the quiet tension. The sound made her jump. Who could be calling this late? She checked the screen and saw an unknown caller. She hesitated for a moment, then let it ring through to voicemail. The phone vibrated again almost immediately, this time with a text message.

“Hi, Cara! Vince here. Are you sleeping already?”

Cara’s heart skipped a beat. It was him.

With a small sigh, she typed back. “Oh, hello. It’s already late, so yes, I was about to sleep.”

She felt a twinge of annoyance but couldn’t help the curiosity that simmered in her chest. She had to admit it, there was something about him. She couldn’t deny it. After a few seconds, her phone rang again. It was Vince.

Without thinking, she picked up. “So, you got my number just to disturb me at this late hour?” She teased him lightly, trying to keep her voice playful, though her stomach fluttered a bit.

On the other end, Vince’s voice was warm and smooth, a little playful as well. “Well, I just wanted to say goodnight. But honestly, I just wanted to hear your voice before I sleep. I know it's late, but I couldn't resist.”

Cara couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “I see how it is. I thought you were calling about our project presentation. I didn’t realize it was just to flirt with me.” She was pretending to be annoyed, but something about his tone made it hard to stay angry.

Vince chuckled softly. “I’ll get to the project stuff later. For now, I just wanted to wish you a good night and hear your voice.”

Cara rolled her eyes, but her heart raced a little. “Well, since we’re already talking, what exactly did you want to ask about the project?”

Vince paused, as if weighing his words carefully. “We have time tomorrow, don’t we? I was just thinking that I’d come to see you in the morning so we could talk about it. But... I don’t want to keep you up. You should get a good night’s rest. The last thing I want is for you to faint again because I kept you on the phone too long.”

His words made her feel uneasy, but in a strange way, they also made her feel cared for. It was the way he said it—the underlying concern that made her second-guess herself. Why did she feel like something was hidden in his words?

The conversation ended, but Cara’s mind didn’t rest. She lay there, the events of the day swirling around her like a storm. The library incident, the strange dreams, the sketch that was haunting her, and Vince—everything felt tangled together in a way she didn’t fully understand. Was Vince really just a good Samaritan, or was he connected to something more sinister?

“Have a good night’s sleep, Cara,” Vince’s voice echoed in her mind. “I’ll see you in your dreams... and tomorrow, of course.”

The message he had sent after their call lingered in her thoughts. She felt a chill run down her spine. Why did his words feel so... familiar? It wasn’t just the phrase itself; it was the way he had said it. She tried to remember where she had heard those exact words before, but the memory was elusive, like a dream fading in the morning light.

---

The next moment, she found herself standing in a dreamlike world once again. The same place she had visited before, but it felt more vivid now, as if she could almost touch it.

“You’re here. You missed me?” His voice greeted her, smooth and full of affection, as he smiled at her with that familiar, perfect smile.

Cara’s heart tightened in her chest. “Yes, I’ve missed you. I’ve been so caught up with everything in the real world. I’m sorry for forgetting you, for not coming back sooner.” The words came from somewhere deep inside her, words she didn’t understand but couldn’t deny.

His eyes softened, and he stepped closer to her. “Don’t worry about that, my love. We’ve already met, remember? Even if you didn’t notice me.” His voice was gentle, like he was consoling her.

She stepped forward, unable to resist the pull toward him. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. It was comforting, familiar, and yet she felt a pang of guilt, like there was something wrong about it.

“I wish I could remember,” she whispered against his chest, feeling a deep ache within her. “I wish I could remember everything... the way I feel here, with you.”

He simply held her tighter, as if everything in the world was right in that moment. But as she closed her eyes, she realized that it was all just a dream—a beautiful, painful dream that she couldn’t escape.