My head is spinning when I wake up the next morning. I slowly get dressed, then walk downstairs, forcing myself to smile at Dad. "How are you feeling?" He asks, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I nod as I kiss him back.

Images of my dream float through my head and I take a deep breath. "Bella? Is everything okay?" Dad asks.

"I... I had a weird dream last night. I was walking to Mom's grave and I noticed the rose from my last visit still laying against it. As I bent down and ran my hand over the stone, I heard a shimmering noise behind me. When I turned around... Mom was standing in front of me. She told me to tell you she loved you and that she was sorry." Tears form in Dad's eyes at the last word.

He quickly blinks them away and takes my hand. "It was just a dream, honey. You've been so overwhelmed lately, you probably just willed her to appear."

I want to argue, but in the back of my mind, I hear a voice telling me otherwise. I nod, forcing a smile. "Yeah, you're probably right. Anyway, I've got to get to school." As I leave, Dad's words echo in my head.

Tara greets me as I walk to school. "So, I was thinking, since it's Friday, how about you sleep over at my house," I say as I walk to my locker. "You can meet my dad."

An apprehensive smile appears on Tara's face. "Sounds great." I smile as I scribble my address on a piece of paper. "Just come over after school."

Tara nods as the bell rings. I head to class, realising I completely forgot to tell her about the dream.

The rest of the day passes in a blur. After my last class, I head home, quickly fill Dad in on Tara, and walk to my room.

Diving into my homework, I barely hear the doorbell hours later. I rush to the door and open it to reveal Tara, a sleeping bag in her hands and a smile on her face. "Hey!" She says.

I hug her as she walks inside. "Hey! So glad you could make it." As we walk in the kitchen, Dad notices Tara. "Dad, this is Tara Jackson. Tara, this my dad."

Tara sticks out her hand, no recognition crossing her face. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Dad smiles as he shakes her hand. "Very nice to meet you, Tara." We eat dinner, then Tara and I escape to my room.

"Okay, tell me everything," Tara says as soon as we're alone.

I grab a pillow, playing with the fabric as I talk. "So, I walked to Mom's grave and noticed the rose from my last visit still laying against the grave. I ran my hand across the stone, then heard a shimmering noise behind me."

I swallow hard, a lump appearing in my throat. "Clutching my necklace, I whirled around and came face-to-face with Mom. For a while, we just stared at each other, then she broke the silence. She asked me what I could possibly be sorry for. I told her I'm second-guessing every decision I make and how much Dad and I miss her. She told me I was a strong, beautiful, intelligent young woman and that I certainly didn't need her to tell me that."

Tara smiles at that. "Then she told me to tell Dad she loved him and that she was sorry. Before I could ask what she meant, she disappeared, then I woke up."

Tara places her hand on mine. "My dad hasn't told me much about his past with your parents, but from what you just told me, I know that your mom would be so proud of you if she could see you now."

I squeeze her hand. "Thanks." By the time I finish speaking, it's dark outside.

Tara hugs me. "You need to tell your dad about what happened in the graveyard. Maybe he can help." I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Tara's words echoing in my head, then fall asleep hours later.

Read and review!