Rain poured heavily as I ran across the abandoned street the deem lights on each side not doing much to banish the darkness, I ran on although my limbs begged me to stop, how long I'd been running I didn't know neither did I try to find out as I remembered the thing chasing me and just the thought made me forge on faster, my ragged breathes the only sound filling the street
Ahead of me was a blindingly bright light that was a stark contrast to the road I was on. I ran towards it with hope blossoming in me, salvation was here, I thought, but as I neared it, my steps slowed, before me was a figure dazzling in white, its clothes flowing in the invisible wind. I contemplated what I should do as the figure stood in the middle of the road, not moving an inch. I had nowhere else to go unless I turned back
Looking to the other side of the street, all thoughts escaped me as the black shadow I had been running from approached slowly. I was now torn, should I trust the white figure? I looked at it, still unmoving, but its heavy presence choked me. It had such an intimidating aura that I didn't dare move close. The figure looked to the approaching darkness, tilting its head slightly, and although it had no features, I could tell its curiosity was piqued
The black shadow on the other side came to a halt, it briefly looked at me, making me shudder slightly, before turning towards the light figure. Now that they were both close, I noticed their silhouette was the same, and neither had features. Their only difference was their color. The shadow tilted its head in the opposite direction, intrigued by the mysterious figure before it. I looked between both, wondering if I could slip away while they were distracted, but that thought was cut short when they both started moving, inching closer to each other as if an invisible rope was pulling them. I froze in terror the closer they got, and although I wasn't directly in their path, I didn't dare move, afraid that any slight movement would turn the attention to me
Closer and closer they got, and I shrank more into the wall. The light one stretched out its hand first, and the shadow followed suit, and soon they pulled in an embrace, and I gawked at the sight of it. Slowly both looked at me and beckoned me to join them, all my senses begged me to run but my feet suddenly steadily moved forward till I stood before them, they parted leaving me in the middle as they both took my hands, their touch comforting and the feeling of relief coursed through me as though we were kindred spirits once lost from each other but finally reunited
*
I woke up to the sun shining its glorious rays through the small slits on my curtains, I stretched my numb limbs as I walked to the window to let the sun mask me in its full glory. It was just 7:15, yet the sun was already shining so brightly, a good sign. I immediately hit the shower, relishing the feel of the warm water on my skin. I closed my eyes, remembering the strange dream I had; if the other was scary, this one left me comforted with a glint of happiness inside. It was all so strange how those dreams had left quite a mark on me. After I was done, I sat at my desk and took out my sketching book. I was eager to draw the two figures I had seen before the vivid memory escaped my mind
I wasn't good at sketching/drawing, but I wasn't bad either, so I could at least showcase what I had seen. Slowly I sketched thinking how better it would have looked if I indeed had talent in it, I sighed loudly to myself but continued nonetheless, after I was done I picked out my clothes got dressed, and went downstairs to find my mother already up making breakfast humming to the song playing from her airpods, I sat on the counter and watched her carry on flipping the pancakes while doing a little dance
If there was something my mother was talented in other than cooking, it was singing. She had the voice of an angel, literally or at least what I imagined an angel sounded like. During her glory days, as she called them, she was an artist, having written and released many songs and albums. She was so talented that she received the best artist global award, which was proudly displayed in her study room, together with all her other awards. She quit when I was five, the pressure of the industry taking a toll on her. She now earns a living as a renowned songwriter, and added to the wise investments she had made over the years, it was safe to say we didn't lack for anything, even with my father gone. Especially with him gone
She hummed on without a care in the world and I was happy to see that, this version of her made me the happiest, especially after the horrible time we had when my father slammed her with divorce papers and left as soon as the judge allowed it, he didn't even try to get custody of any of us not that I wanted to leave with him but still he didn't even try to show he cared. Good riddance to him, though. I was happy, we were happy, and we had eventually healed
"Oh dear, you scared me half to death."
"Sorry Mum, you were just so happy I didn't want to interrupt."
"Oh, darlin', you could never interrupt my happiness. How long have you been there, though?"
"About ten minutes," I said, smiling cheekily
"Liar," she said, sticking her tongue out, and I did the same
"Is little Joshy still asleep?" I asked, biting into the pancakes she served up to me, and I stifled a moan at the godly flavor filling my taste buds
"He hates it when you call him that."
"Exactly why I do it," I said, smiling, and my mother only shook her head
"Yes, he is, spent the night playing that video game of his. So you ready for work"?
"Yeah, though I still have some minutes."
"Aren't you picking Brea up?"
"Shit"
I said much to my mother's disapproval, I shouted an apology, and rushed out the door. If my mother hadn't mentioned it, I would have totally forgotten that Brea had asked me to pick her up. Getting into my Jeep which was a gift from my mother when I finally got that damned driver's license. I found Brea sitting outside on her porch. She looked up at me with that serious fake look she always had whenever I did something wrong, but she didn't care.
"Sorry"
"Three minutes late, Miss Lyla."
"Apologies, Ma'am," I said, tipping my head in a bow
She huffed, "You better not make the same mistake," to which I only released an exaggerated sigh of relief, making us both laugh, "so you forgot you were picking me up."
"Sorry" was my only response as I drove off their driveway
Brea and I had been working during the weekends and holidays at a diner owned by the Sheriff's wife for the past year, and we absolutely loved it there. Mrs Mariah was the sweetest person I knew, that was until you got on her bad side, then she wouldn't be all roses and peonies, but that was a rare occurrence. The woman had an ocean of patience in her that always surprised and left us in complete awe