Sofia Everything was bright. Too bright. Nothing was clear. I struggled, trying hard to bring things into my perspective but it was doing nothing but hurting. "Sofia!" The voice was familiar. Crystal clear in the haze, trying to show me the right path. "Sofia?"And then I saw him. Dark eyes squinting at me, forehead wrinkled with concern. "Sofia," He was calling. "Can you hear me?" "W...water," I groaned. My throat was dry as hay. It felt as if someone has left me to die in a bloody desert. The feeling inside me was of utmost discomfort at the moment. 

When I open my eyes it was bright. Too bright and I squinted hard to get my focus back. As the vision becomes clear I saw him. He looked at me wearing the smile that he kept reserved for me. The not too broad yet alluring smile. His deep eyes searched mine and I smiled back at him. "Bad dream?" He asked softly and I nodded my head.  "I dreamt that you left me," I whispered. "I will never leave you," He smiled but as I stared at him he began to slowly drift away, slowly becoming translucent. "Liam!" I exclaimed, sitting up. "Liam!" "Take care, Sofia," He smiled again and now he was like a mist, floating away from me. I felt panic hitting me full force and I couldn't breathe. I reached out to hold his hands but a searing pain jolted through my body making me double over. "Stop!" I groaned. "Stop!" But he was too far away. I can't even see him

  Sofia (3 months later)I stared at the full-length mirror in front of me in the enormous room with white walls and blue furniture and in return, a pale ghostly person stared back. She had deep dark circles under her eyes. Her hairs were disheveled, haphazardly combed to look just presentable enough. The dark eyes looked almost lifeless and the lips were set in a straight line.What was I doing here again?"Good morning, Sofia," A voice from behind me said but I didn't turn to look...or reply. Eventually, she revealed herself and sat down in front of me on the blue leather couch."I am Dr. Gabrielle Stevens, nice to meet you," The woman smiled.

Albert Einstein once said, " “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” And I was going to do exactly that. I have a goal and today was the first step to achieving that. I was going to sit through my interview, give my best, and hope that I get the job so that I can just pack away the bullshit few months of my life and start afresh. Because slowly I was starting to see clearly. Starting to see the effects of my emotional lockdown on others. There was no way Kristen, Sean, or even my mother deserved that.  Yes! I can do that! "Hey! Good morning!" Kris exclaimed, opening my bedroom door with her legs. She stared at me from behind the tray she was carrying and almost nearly ended up dropping my break

   Sofia"I can't believe you're leaving," Kris exclaimed, shoving my clothes into my suitcase.She has been saying this relentlessly since I told her I am leaving. And every time I listen to her say that I realize that even I can't believe myself. It felt...weird. "It's for the best Kris," I whispered. "There's nothing left for me here,""Why not? I am here," She cried. "You started here with me and then that asshole came along! I was here first!""I am not leaving you," I urged. "I am just leaving the baggage. I can't even get a job now without being harassed! What am I supposed to do here?"