Chapter 5

"Daniella... Daniella, wake up, you're going to be late for school," Nora's gentle voice traveled to my ears. I shot up with a short gasp. I'd been tossing and turning all night with nightmares. I dreamed of my father driving his car straight off a cliff and into a river. It was like I was there with him. It was like I was him. I felt his depression, his sadness, his anxiety and guilt. I felt the moment when he decided that he'd done his job and kept his promise and life wasn't worth living anymore without his true love. I felt his loneliness. I saw him veer the car into the freezing river. I watched as the car fell under the light layer of ice and stated to fill with water. I felt him inhale the water and accept his death. As things started blacking, he was content. He wanted to be with my mother... his soulmate.

I relived the dream over and over until Nora woke me. It was painful to watch and feel. I didn't even realize I was crying. My shaking breath and runny nose provoked me to touch my cheek and feel the tears. My new room slowly came into focus.

"Are you alright, dear?" Nora asked me, worried. Her gaze was focused in on my eyes as she stared at me in wonder and worry. She was rubbing my back in a comforting manner. I sighed and buried my face in my hands for a brief moment.

"I just had this nightmare about my dad," I admitted when I finally looked at her. I told her all of it. By the end, I was in tears again. She rested my head on her chest as she rubbed my back.

"I'm so sorry, Dani. I know that your mother's passing was the hardest on you father. After your mother passed, he disappeared with you, but as you can see, he kept his promise. Losing a soulmate can make someone lose the will to live," she sympathized. I was confused and more scared than before.

"But it was just a dream... right?" I asked. She nodded.

"Of course, sweetheart. No one can know the future. Maybe you were subconsciously picking up on your father's mood and your brain created a worst case scenario," she said before she stood with a sigh. "The school is only a fifteen minute walk normally, but I'll drive you since it's winter and the temperature is only going drop, I'll drive you until it gets warmer. Dress warmly," Nora said, changing the subject before she left my room quickly. I was sensing a major diversion there, but I let it go and got up to get ready. I didn't want to be late to my first day of school.

I quickly got dressed in a red sweater and jeans with a leather jacket and gray scarf. I left my hair down for fear of making my ears beat red and on display. My pale skin made it really easy to see where my blood was flowing to. I tried tanning and makeup but it was too much effort, and half the time I would just burn a brighter red. I didn't bother with makeup. My long, thick eyelashes were pitch black, standing out just fine on their own without any extra help. My cheeks turned red if the wind blew the wrong way. And my semi-full lips were always pink. Chapstick was all I used. It saved a lot of time.