3. (New Hope Children's Home)

The sky was spinning. The stars whipped by in a blur of light, going faster and faster until I felt as if the heavens were descending upon me. I could hear my name being called out, but I couldn't respond. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I woke up in a panic. 

I’ve been having a lot of those types of dreams lately. Ever since the accident. I find the best way to cope is to turn on all the lights, make some coffee, and go talk to the first person available in the hopes of letting the fear from the nightmare drift away. 

Heading out of my bare room and out of New Hope, I strode quickly to the Sunnyside up diner. In search of coffee, I was not ready for what I saw inside. Note to self: when you've barely just gotten out of bed, don't show up at a speed-dating event. You will feel very out of place in sweats and a ratty T-shirt. Just as I was about to get out of there, I had a nametag shoved into my hand. I looked up to see who the offending stranger was, and found myself staring into the "dreamy" eyes of Brian. 

            "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked. 

            He laughed and pulled me out of the doorway "I’m trying to represent the minute clinic" he responded. 

I rolled my eyes as I ripped off the nametag. I wasn't going to have any part of this, so not my thing. But he insisted I stay and meet some of his friends. As I wandered around with my coffee, I took in the people in front of me. Could I really stay in Dreamwood for that long? It feels forced and strange to be in this town. I don't want to spend my life around people that only remind me of my childhood and what it was like to lose my family. Standing there alone, watching the room swell in front of me, I began to panic. What was I thinking coming back here? Does New Hope even really need me? All of the sudden the room felt too crowded, the lights to bright, and the music too loud. I staggered to the door, the paranoia from my nightmare quickly returning.

The frigid air burned my eyes and my throat as I started running. I needed to get away, and I needed to clear my head. I ran until all I could hear was my heart pounding and my jagged breathing. I ran until the pain of my past began to ebb away leaving me exhausted and more confused than ever.