Melanie's scream started even before she opened her eyes. "Michael!" She had yelled at seeing him roll off the cliff.

She was panting heavily, drenched in sweat that oozed out of her pores, even in a cold night. As calmness returned to her and the quick pants dampened in her gradual realization of her present environment; she slowly let go of her arm where the splinter had torn her skin seven years ago, revealing the huge old scar, that resembled a little lizard.

It had been seven years, yet Melanie hadn't been able to let go of her dreaded past. On regular intervals just like tonight, she had this horrible experience replay with full details in her head when she falls asleep. It had made Melanie's liveliness and smiley face a history. She lived in seclusion, finding peace only in music and dark claustrophobic rooms. She had tried so much to let go, she had tried to forget, she had tried to move on or at least heal, but frustratedly, she never got to.

Melanie whimpered, but covered her mouth with her hands in attempt to mute herself. She fell back into her bed, grabbed her pillow from behind her, held it to her torso in a tight embrace and curled into it with her face buried deep into it. Muffled sounds of cry escaped inaudibly and she wept and wept. Her tears drenched the pillow rapidly. As if it wasn't bad enough that she experienced such a thing at such a young age, she still relived the moments regularly in form of nightmares.

Melanie's mother, Verena, was awoken from her sleep when Melanie screamed. It happened often, so she wasn't alarmed. She struggled to her feet and wore her new pair of SpongeBob flip-flops that Junior picked out for her at the mall a week before, yawned and trudged.

She knocked at Melanie's door softly. "Honey, are you alright?" She asked sympathetically.

"I'm fine mom." Melanie tried to conceal the grief in her voice. "Go back to bed."

"Are you sure babe? . . can we talk about it?"

Melanie yelled. "I'm fine mom. Get off my back . . . Jeez." The sadness in her voice became obvious. " I don't wanna talk . . . Alright?"

Verena stayed silent for a while, pondering over the situation. ...whether to let her be or not? "Nightmares again honey?" She asked in an even softer tone and waited for a reply, but got none. "I cant let you be alone like this . . . If you really want me out of your hair then you need to do a lot more than be rude." She paused and then with a theme of concern in her tone she continued; "I love you so much baby . . . in such a way that I just can't stay away when you are this way. I just can't go back to sleep knowing you..."

Before Verena could finish, Melanie had opened the door, jumped on her for a tight hug. Melanie held her mother tight and sobbed loudly into her shoulder. Her body trembled for she struggled to hold in her grief.

Verena could feel her daughter's heart beating against hers and in that manner, she could feel her pain. She wished she could do something to really help her baby. She prayed for some kind of angel to fly down, to touch and brighten her baby's life. She wished there was something she could do to help, other than sit around and hoping she heals by herself with time. It really hurt her seeing Melanie like this everyday and not be able to do anything about it . . . and as a mother, until she does something, she too could never find peace.

"It's okay hon' . . . it's okay."She said and caressed Melanie's back. Slowly tears began to form in her own eyes too.

"I - I . . . love you . . . mom." Melanie said from her croaking voice and sobbed. She tightened her hug. "I'm so sorry."

Hearing this, tears dropped from Verena's already drenched eyes. She held Melanie's face in her hands, looked into her eyes for a moment and then kissed her forehead. "I love you too sweetie . . . always did and always will."

They held each other again in tight embrace as if the survival of the human race was dependent on the tightness of that hug.