Chapter 3

• I opened my eyes and gasped for air as if someone was choking me the entire time I was sleeping. I feel my own heart beating fast inside my chest as I tried to calm my senses. I pulled myself up from the bed and found myself lying on top of my old mattress with my favourite unicorn bed sheet that I have always loved when I was in high school. I looked around the entire room and realized that I was inside my mom's house. I reached my mom's house last night?
• Wait, what about the car accident?
• I pulled my arms up and peeled the blanket off my legs and found no stain of wounds all over me. I rushed to my dresser to check myself, I didn't have any wound from the car accident last night. I was absolutely fine and nothing hurt in every corner of my body. My soul had left my body and I know I saw my own self being carried by the medics. I know I died last night.
• My brows knitting in the middle of my forehead and was utterly speechless with what was happening to me because I know I was involved in a totally freaky car accident last night. I was thrown out from my car when another speeding vehicle hit me from behind. I saw a family of four unconscious and I saw the driver of that truck being pulled out from the driver's seat. I know I stepped so hard on my brake trying to save my own life after I caught Charles cheating on me.
• Charles.
• I grabbed my phone and found one message from Charles.
• Charles: Baby please talk to me. Let's not end it yet, please.
• I ignored his message that he sent me an hour ago and left him on read. I realized that it was still nine in the morning of the 15th of July 2020. It was just a day after I broke up with him and I still don't understand how I got home last night. What about the car accident?
• I sat on my bed and felt weirded out of what just happened to me because it was a dream.
• The car accident was a dream but it felt so real.
• I rushed out of my bedroom and looked for my mom to where I found her in the kitchen. I know she's cooking my favourite meal because every time I come home, she always cooks my favourites. I approached her as I watch her cook until she notices me.
• "Oh, you're finally awake." She smiles.
• And it was really my mom. "Mom." I called out seriously.
• She looks back at me, "Yes Merry? Why do you look at me like that?"
• "Do you see me?" I asked.
• Her brows creasing, "What kind of question is that? Of course I see you."
• "Do you really see me?"
• "Are you on drugs?"
• "No!" I answered right away.
• "Then tell me why wouldn't I see you?" She placed the pancakes over the plates and holds my hand as she smiles at me, "Come and join me for breakfast."
• We walk towards the table and settled on our seats. I stare at my mom intently who is eating right across me while she stares at me reluctantly. "America, why in actual hell do you look at me like that?"
• "And you can hear my voice."
• She sighs, "What is going on with you? Are you sick? If it's drugs, you better freaking stop it lady."
• "Mom, no. I'm not taking any drugs." I sigh too. "I just… I had the weirdest dream and… it felt so real."
• She looks at me reluctantly, "Some dreams are like that."
• "But it's not the usual dream…. I… I saw myself… I felt like my soul left my body… I was in a car accident and I… saw myself mom. I saw myself almost lifeless as if I was already a soul. I knew that was what happened to me….." I trailed.
• Mom holds my hand, "Don't you think you were just thinking too much because of what happened to to you and Charles?" She asks me. "Maybe your body was just completely tired and you've had a lot of things going on in your life with work and personal stuff."
• I sigh again and wondered maybe that mom might be right. Maybe that could be the reason why I had such a weird dream last night. "How did I come home last night?"
• "Well, you were knocking at my door past 3AM and crying the entire night because of Charles. I didn't know you were drunk last night that you didn't remember how you came home. You didn't smell like alcohol." She answers as a matter-of-factly.
• I breathe out heavily as I stare at my plate feeling more confused with what really happened to me last night or if my dream was real at all. "Why are you asking me so weird questions early in the morning?"
• I pulled my head up and stare back at my mom, "Nothing." I responded. "I just… I just didn't remember how I came here the moment I woke up in my old room." I answered her honestly.
• "Look, I'm sorry about what happened to you and Charles, honey." Mom cooed.
• I shake my head, "I want to say I'm fine but I am actually not and…. I don't really want to talk about Charles because it only reminded me of how he cheated on me, mom."
• She nods, "It's not your fault why he cheated. Don't think less of yourself because of only one man, okay?" She comforted me.
• I answer a nod with a weak smile.
• "Why don't you take a few days off? To get things out of your head. You need it."
• "You think so?"
• Mom smiles, "I know so. I know you're a strong willed woman America and I know you're stronger than this but sometimes you have to find yourself somewhere else where you can heal your wounds."
• I pulled my chair closer to my mom and hugged her as she wraps her arms around me. I tried my best not to cry, "I've never felt so betrayed mom." I try to stop myself from crying. "I never thought Charles could do this to me. I never thought he'll cheat on me."
• She rubs her hand over my spine, "Honey, sometimes in life things happen for reason especially when you've been completely blinded by everything. I guess life is already telling you that the person who you are investing so much time with is not really worth your time at all."
• I pulled my head to face my mom, "Do you think I can get over this mom?"
• "Of course, Merry. You don't know how strong you are." She kisses my forehead.
• "Thanks mom." I hug her tighter.
• Later that afternoon, I called the office and told my boss that I will be gone for an indefinite leave because I was dealing with something personal. My boss, kind as usual, allowed me to be away for as long as I want if it will be helpful for me to grow as a human. I told him that he can still send me a few mails if he needed to my help and he was happy to hear it.
• "LUAHU." I say the name of the island.