“You mean, this time it wasn’t a boy, but a grown man? Did you see his face?” Jean asked, curiosity dancing in her voice.
Cara sat quietly, trying to gather her thoughts before responding. “I didn’t. I was about to see his face, but then I suddenly woke up. I tried going back to sleep to continue the dream, but I couldn’t return to it. I was frustrated, Jean. It felt like something important was just out of reach.” She let out a soft sigh, her tone heavy with disappointment.
Jean’s voice took on a playful, almost teasing quality. “I think your childhood playmate just grew up into a man. Maybe it was him! Can you imagine? Your dream is unbelievable! But then again, maybe it’s just absurd. It couldn’t happen in reality… unless he’s real. So, don’t mind me, I’m just throwing ideas out there,” she laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
Jean was joking, but she had a point. It didn’t make sense that the boy from her dream could grow up into a man in real life. Maybe it was just Cara’s mind creating the idea that he had grown up. After all, her dream was likely shaped by her subconscious.
“But hey, what do you mean by ‘unless he’s real’?” Cara frowned, still confused by her friend’s words.
“Oh, my conclusion still stands,” Jean replied. “I’m sure of it, Cara. That boy existed in your childhood memory. You met him once, but there’s something you’ve forgotten—perhaps the important moment when you encountered him. But as for the grown man in your dream, it’s not possible for him to become that boy, unless... you thought he was.”
Cara knew Jean was right. There was a part of her memory where she knew she’d met the boy, but the key details were missing. What exactly had happened during their encounter? She couldn’t recall.
But the reality remained blurry. She hadn’t experienced any accident that could’ve caused her to forget the important moment. Still, she remembered the boy’s face so clearly. Her head ached from trying to make sense of it all.
“Can you give me the highest dosage of stress relievers?” Cara sighed, her thoughts racing. She was sure she didn’t have any forgotten memory about him. The only memory she had was of him in her dreams.
“You know by now,” Jean continued, “the only cure for this is to forget about that dream—and that boy. You need to move on with your life so he won’t keep affecting your present.”
Jean was right again. But what if the dream came back? How could she move on?
With a deep sigh, Cara ended the call abruptly and tried to shake the thoughts from her mind. That’s when her mother called her.
“Cara, sweetheart, you’ve got a letter from an unknown person. Do you have a stalker? Who sends a letter without a name or address?” Her mother handed her the letter, clearly curious but respecting Cara’s privacy by not opening it herself.
“Thanks, Mom! I have no idea who this is from,” Cara said as she accepted the letter.
She opened it immediately. The envelope was plain white with only her name and address written on it. She read the letter with growing curiosity:
Dear Cara,
You can call me by my pen name, “Mr. Smith.” I just wanted you to know that I admired your sweet charm the first time I met you. I’m writing this letter to express my gratitude. I am deeply thankful for your help during a difficult time in my past. I owe you a lot.
Sincerely,
Mr. SmithWho was Mr. Smith? Cara couldn’t remember any encounter with a man by that name. And what had she helped him with? She found herself questioning the letter over and over but couldn’t make sense of it. After a moment of confusion, she decided to push it aside and store the letter in her drawer by her bed. She didn’t want to dwell on it.
She finished the book she’d been reading, and exhaustion finally caught up with her. She climbed into bed, resting on her pillows, and soon fell asleep.
Dream Sequence:
“Nothing here has changed, especially you, Cara. You’re still the same, even though you’ve grown into a beautiful young woman. The same sweet girl I always wanted to see, and now, you’re even more stunning than before.”
Cara blinked in surprise at the man before her. His words were flattering, but his face… it seemed so familiar, yet she couldn’t place him.
“Who are you?” she asked, still confused.
“Don’t you remember me? I’m the little boy who used to give you sweet candies whenever we played. My heart would flutter every time you kissed my cheek.”
The realization hit her like a wave. The boy from her dreams—he had grown into a man.
“What’s your name?” Cara asked, trying desperately to cling to some shred of reality as she slowly came to terms with the dream.
“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you my name. Just remember my face. We’ll meet again like this.”
Cara’s confusion deepened. “Why? Because you’re not real?”
He smiled at her innocently, his gaze soft but intense. He was so attractive, so perfect. She could picture him as her potential boyfriend, if only this weren’t just a dream.
Her heart sank with the truth. “I knew it. You’re not real. You’re just a character from my dreams.”
She pinched herself, hoping to wake up. But she remained in the dream.
She closed her eyes and opened them again. Still, there he was, standing before her.
“Are you okay, Cara?” he asked, noticing her distress.
“I’m not okay. This isn’t right. I need to wake up. I shouldn’t be here. You’re just a dream. You’re not real.” Her voice trembled with frustration.
“I am real, Cara. This world between us is real. The past we had—it really happened. But I can’t tell you my name yet. It’s not the right time.”
Before she could respond, he was gone.
Cara woke up, lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind raced, and the image of his face lingered in her thoughts.
His face was so familiar, but she couldn’t place where she had seen him in the real world.
Like it? Add to library!
Vince walked toward the corner of the cafeteria, his mind racing. He suddenly remembered the journal he had given Will before leaving for his adoptive parents' home. He stood up and left the table with Cara to confirm some things, his mind still piecing together the thoughts that had surfaced while reminiscing about his time with her.Vince sat down across from Will, ready to bring up the journal, but before he could say anything, Will started speaking with his usual cunning expression. "You really can't get over Cara, can you?" Will said, a sarcastic grin spreading across his face. He knocked Vince lightly on the shoulder, his tone sharper than before. "I thought you remembered those days. What happened? I thought you wanted to protect her, just like I warned you.""You're right. Cara is my medicine, and she’ll always be my support, even after I heal," Vince replied, clearly firing back at Will’s jabs. "But that’s not the real reason I came here. I need to ask you something about the
“Professor, may I speak with you for a moment?” Vince asked, his voice tinged with unease. His mind was a whirlwind of restless thoughts as he walked toward Cara’s closest friend and most trusted confidante. He felt an overwhelming urge to learn more about Cara—specifically, the fears she had kept buried, the ones she had yet to share with him. His need to understand her was growing, and he hoped that her closest friend could provide insight into the things Cara had yet to reveal. “What’s this about? Is this regarding Cara?” she asked, her tone almost knowing. She motioned for him to follow her toward the counseling room, as though she anticipated his question before he even spoke it. Vince, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity, followed her quietly, sensing that whatever she would say would leave him with more questions than answers. Once they were seated in the quiet of the room, Vince didn’t waste any time. He asked, his voice steady but filled with urgency, “Can you tell m
"I have something to confess," he said, a playful grin tugging at his lips as he sat across from her. The morning sunlight poured through the window, casting a warm, golden glow over the hidden room. He felt a sense of lightness, almost as if a weight had been lifted from him. It was as though he'd been holding onto something for far too long, and now, finally, he was ready to let it go. Today, he was ready to be with Cara without any lingering hesitation."Yeah? Well, you still owe me the full story from the start. I’m curious," she replied, her voice soft but tinged with a hint of playful expectation. She always had that air of innocence about her, the kind that made him want to protect her, but today, he had a feeling she’d be seeing a different side of him.He leaned back against the headboard, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. "Do you remember the guy who gave you that iced coffee?" he asked, watching her reaction closely.She smiled, a light laugh escaping her lips as s
"Mom, I need to tell you something. Vince and I… we like each other. I’m saying this not to ask for your approval, but because I don’t want to lie to you anymore. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me, but I’m old enough to make my own decisions. I remembered my past, and Vince and I talked about everything. He understands, even about his parents. I’ve already been punished for my mistakes, and I’ve been forgiven. I don’t want to blame myself for something I wasn’t responsible for, just because I was too young to understand.”She didn’t know if this was the right time to reveal her relationship with Vince to her mom, but her mom’s ears were sharp, and she was too late to stop herself from saying it. Cara’s best friend excused herself and left early, clearly trying to avoid the impending interrogation that she knew would come. She had been helpful, but now Cara was alone with her mother, who was already suspicious of what she had been doing."But I don’t want you to be hurt in the end,
"Cara, I have an idea for you to get Vince to spend time with you alone and leave him after. I know just the place," Will suggested, his voice filled with a mischievous tone."How do we get there? Do you want to come with us? I’m not sure I can leave Vince alone. He’s my friend, after all," Cara hesitated, her concern for Vince growing."Look over there, see that big cave? If you can get Vince to go there with you, you can play as much as you want. He might even want to be left alone afterward. I won’t be able to come with you, but I can give you directions. You’re a smart girl, I’m sure you’ll find your way back here easily."Will’s plot was clear, and Vince already knew it. At any moment, he anticipated Cara would approach him, unwittingly carrying out Will’s deceitful plan. He quickly turned away, hoping to remain unseen as he overheard their conversation.Minutes later, Cara’s light footsteps echoed through the space, and she came running toward him, wearing her cute little sandals
“I don’t want this to end,” she whispered in her mind as Vince paused for a moment. But before she could process her thoughts, she pulled him back in, her body moving like a wild tigress drawn to the allure of their intense connection. Everything they were doing felt so foreign, so new, and yet, there was an undeniable pull. This was more than just passion; it was a storm brewing inside her, a beautiful disaster unleashed all at once. Her emotions surged and swirled within her, and with a quiet whisper against his ear, she uttered, “Oh please, punish me.”She was giving herself up to him completely, offering herself as the release for their shared chaos. Their emotions were raw and unfiltered, finally allowing them to surrender to the overwhelming desire and pain of the past. In each other’s embrace, they found the balm for the wounds they had carried with them for so long. It was as though the years of anguish had led to this moment, where their bodies and souls could finally heal.Fo