I was dreaming.

It was a beautiful bright day at the small park in our neighborhood. Kimi and I were feeling the rush of the wind as we played on the swings. She laughed and reached her hand towards mine as we moved in sync, forward and back.

Suddenly, gray clouds began to cover the sky, faster than a blink of an eye. Layers upon layers of darkness dulled what seemed like a perfect day. Then I heard it. The scream. No, her scream. It pierced my ears and my chest contracted in pain. I was hyperventilating, terrified, useless. Reaching out towards her just led me to an empty swing.

She was gone.

"Kimi? Kimi?!" I yelled, panicking.

Nervously, I looked around the park for her, but came empty handed. All I could do was throw myself to the ground and cry. I felt a hole in my chest as if a piece of my heart had been ripped off with no mercy.

"Kerri..." I turned around as I heard someone call my name.

"Kimi, is that you? Where are you?"

"Kerri..." her voice was distorted, pleading, scared.

"Kimi, this isn't funny! Where'd you go?"

"Kerri... Kerri..." her voice drifted farther away and when I tried to follow it--

"KERRI-ANN!" Kimi bounced on my bed, trying to shake me out of my sleep. There she was, laughing as giddy as ever. "Wake up, sleepy head."

My eyes adjusted to the rays of sunlight coming through the window. I propped on one elbow and felt the sweat running along my neck. I stared at her face and her smile trying to memorize it and use it to put in place of the fear of the nightmare I had just woken up from.

A swift relief came to me, but it felt unsure. My chest ached and the tips of my fingers tingled.

My mother appeared at my room's door with Marjorie Allen, Kimi's mom. They both chuckled as they saw the scene. Except I couldn't tell what they found amusing, considering I must have had the most terrified expression on my face. Pretty sure I was showered in sweat too. Ugh.

"She didn't want to leave for camp without saying goodbye to you," said Marjorie with a tender smile.

"Really?" I asked raising my eyebrows at Kimi.

"Yup!" She smiled and threw her arms around my neck, then pressed a kiss to my cheek. "I still wish you could come with me."

"I can't go to kiddie camp with you, I told you," I answered.

"I know. But I will see you later. I will tell you everything!" She was so excited, it radiated from her. I tried to catch some of that feeling, but I felt so rattled her energy just bounced off of me. Still, I did my best to smile.

"Are you alright, Kerri-Ann? " my Mom asked, concern passing through her eyes for just a moment.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I smiled. "Now, Kimi. You have to get going or you'll be late."

I forced myself out of bed to walk Kimi and Marjorie to the front door. I hugged them both and then stopped to talk one last time with Kimi.

"Remember the things I said yesterday?" I asked her.

Her green eyes lit up, recalling. "Yes. Be careful and have fun." She tried imitating my voice and shook one tiny finger in front of me.

I laughed feeling a little bit of the weight come off my shoulders. "Right. Be careful and have fun. I'll see you later, girl," I said winking at her then she ran down the steps where her mom was waiting.

When they crossed the street Kimi stopped to wave from afar. Then I saw someone else waving at me.

Rohan. Marjorie's boyfriend of four years. He stood beside his pickup truck waving back at us as he grabbed Kimi's tiny backpack from her mother's hand. His crooked smile gave me goosebumps. He was a handsome man, the type that can make any lady swoon. I've never liked him, though. My smile faded a bit and my hand just stopped waving. Marjorie kissed him goodbye, blew a kiss to Kimi and walked over to her own car.

I felt like I was watching a snow globe. The image, still and repeating. They looked like a happy family, but the chill down my spine and the overwhelming feeling from my nightmare lingered making the image look eerie instead.

Marjorie drove off first. To her shift at the hospital, I figured. Then Rohan, with Kimi sitting beside him. She seemed so happy. I saw him look at her with a smile. Was it? Then he looked at me with one last wave as I saw past him at the little girl that was clapping to the rhythm of one of her cheerful songs.