It was the day after my 16th birthday, our family of four gathered into the living room for a family meeting. Mom never told me what the meeting was about but she had that look that means it's serious. I sit down on the light green couch next to my little sister Emily. Mom and Dad sat on chairs facing us, looking nervous. The light that flooded the room looked unreal as I look at my surroundings; the air had tiny specs of dust that sparked when it hit the light coming from the windows behind us. Dad stood up to talk, Mom sat quietly in the green chair not speaking a word. "I hope she takes this easy." Wait? Did I just hear her talk without her mouth moving? I stand up looking into my Dads purple eyes, wondering what is going on. "Hun. This may come as a surprise to you but, you're different." I heard his voice but the sound didn't come out of his mouth. I try to talk, but nothing comes out...

River! Wake up, it's time for breakfast." My Mom called from down stairs. I get up off the floor realizing that it was all a dream. It felt so real though. It was three days till my 16th birthday, and I had the same dream all week. All the dreams are the same every night, we are having a family meeting, my dad stands up, I hear my Mom talk without her moving her mouth, and then I hear my Dad telling me I am different. I rub it off and head down the stairs to the small kitchen; I can smell pancakes as I walk down the steps, making my pace faster. I walk in to see pancakes on a platter in the place I usually sit; Mom is by the stove too busy to notice my appearance into the kitchen. I sit down and start chomping away at the large plate of food. "Hey Hun, did you sleep well last night?" My mom says turning around to pay attention to her early riser.

"Well, I had that dream again so that was a bummer." "You know what they say about having the same dream more than once!" Emily Screeched out, surprising both of us. "Nothing is going to happen dear. It's just a dream." Mom Reassures me. "I don't know. It's just that, they seem so real. Like they're trying to tell me something." "Who's they?" Emily questioned me with a confused face stuffed with food. "No one is telling you anything, enough talk about the dream we will discuss it later when your Father gets back from work at 4." Mom said, ending the topic. I feel she is hiding something from me, but I don't know what it is, or why they would keep me from it. I go outside using the kitchen door into the backyard, our dog Buddy is laying in his small dog house. I call him and he comes with no hesitation, I lay on the grass petting him. When I feel alone or can't handle another comment from Emily, I go here to Buddy. Sometimes I think he can actually understand me. Usually Buddy is hyper and wants to play, but when I pet him he is, calm, and a great listener. "Hey Buddy, I had my dream again." I just don't understand it, why do I have these dreams. Normal people have different dreams, every night. What's wrong with me? Am I really, different? "I guess it's just another day in weird-o-Ville for me." Buddy looks at me with his big blue sad eyes crying for food. "I guess foods more important to dogs." I run into the house and come back out with a big bowl of dog food. For a second I think I felt his excitement. Like felt it coming from him as a brought out the food. "Buddy, I am getting weirder and weirder every day. Am I crazy?"

"No. But if you keep talking to yourself I might have to recommend you to a Physiologist." I turn around to see the voice of my spy and see my best friend, Libby Smith. "Libby!" I yell as I jump up for a surprise hug. "Hey girly, whatcha doin out here?" She asks regarding my self-chat. "Just thinking about the dream." I answer back. "You're still having those dreams? Did you tell your parents about it?" She asks with concern wrote all over her face. "Kind of. Umm...Libby...am I different to you?" I question her, hesitating a little for a fear of knowing I am weird. "Well I always feel calm around you even though I was mad a second ago." She says while whispering the last part so I would not hear. "What did he do to you this time!" I say with a fiery passion. I stare into her deep green eyes hoping to find the answer when...

I see a white house. I am expecting is Libby's. I see Libby in the kitchen sitting at the table doing some homework. A man walks into the room, I feel Libby's emotion as it turns to fear when he walks in. "Where's my beer Libby!" the man shouts at Libby causing her to tremble. "I...I don't know." Libby quietly says to the tall man. "Don't lie to me Libby! Where's my beer!" I can feel the fear and anger building up inside Libby as she remains silent. The man then grabs her by the arm and begins to punch her. I try to scream her name but again, nothing comes out...

"River! Are you okay? What's wrong! River!" I hear Libby calling me as I come back to reality. Libby shakes me vigorously while my vision returns to normal. "River! What happened? She asks me, giving me another concerned look. I could feel the confusion and fear coming from her concerned about what had happened to me. What happened? Did I just see Libby's past? That's it, I am telling my parents about this and they WILL listen! Libby then rushes to the door, calling my Mom to come outside. "What's wrong girls?" She said in a calm and gentle voice. "Nothing!" I shouted back shocking her with my immediate answer. Libby lies down beside me and starts to cry, I quickly take her in my arms trying to calm her. Mom notices Libby's quick change of emotion, she swiftly sweeps her in her arms to help her up and gently guides her into the house.

Coming into the house, I hear the last of their conversation. "It's ok Libby dear; I will call your Father so he can come pick you up." My mom said to Libby trying to make her feel better. "No. What we are going to do is call children services on her Dad, Libby can stay here with us as long as she wants." I say catching the attention of the whole house. "Children Services?" My Mom asks not understanding the reason. "Libby, show her your arm." I say looking at Libby's green watery eyes. It breaks my heart knowing she goes through that and nobody even knows a thing about it. Not even me. Libby pulls up her sleeve to show a horrible bruise going up her whole arm. "Is there anymore?" Asking a question I already knew the answer too. Libby lifts up her shirt showing her bruised belly. My Mom stares in shock at the sight of the purple and blue bruises consuming her body. "I was right." I said quietly to myself. "Libby, what happened? Did your Father do this to you?" My Mom asks Libby. Libby starts to cry, confirming the question.