Sasha's Dream

As days continued to move on, Sasha noticed some changes in both her parents. Her mother didn't beat her anymore. And, as for her father, he was working bit harder and was trying his best to keep himself from being harsh. She had no idea what made such drastic changes. She was glad about it but confused at the same time as she could not explain the reason.

July 25

Yet another ordinary school day. During lunch break, Alice was chatting with Sasha as usual.

"Did you know, Sasha? This school once had eight wonders." Alice said to her while eating her bread.

"Isn't that just made up?"

"Maybe... But, that's not the point. One of the wonders had been broken years ago."

"And what's that?"

"It once used to be said that nothing ever got stolen from this school. But, years ago, a book got stolen."

"A book?" Sasha repeated finding it suspicious.

"Yes. If I remember correctly, it was a book commonly read to the kindergartners of this school. The book was said to have a very short story and it is heard that most of the pages were empty. Interesting, right?"

Sasha clearly got scared to find it too similar to the book she found in her bookshelf. But, she couldn't recall ever stealing the book or any other book.

Suddenly, she started to hear laughter in her head followed by a severe headache similar to the previous times. She started having visions about the story as well. As her face turned pale, Alice got worried.

"Sasha? Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry. I need to go to the washroom." She said and ran off.

She did that because she didn't want Alice to get involved into her mess. Entering the washroom, she looked herself into the mirror with the basin. She confirmed that she wasn't feeling well. Her head was spinning like crazy and she didn't know what to do. She started to feel a slight pain in her c.h.e.s.t as well. Shortly after, she felt that she was at her limit and collapsed. There was no one there present to help her.

On the other hand, Alice got sick of waiting and thought of checking on her. She was worried about her as she was looking pale when she left. Reaching the washroom, she was shocked to see her lying down unconscious.

"Sasha?! What happened to you? Wake up!" She called out to her.

"Sasha?!" She called again.

Finding her still, she decided to take her to the nurse's room.  As she started to drag her, it was taking her time. She was a little girl, after all. How would she be able to carry her all the way? But, she did not give up and dragged on. Finally getting out of the washroom, she came across some seniors incidentally. She took the chance and asked them for help. Seeing Sasha unconscious, they helped her carry her.

Finally reaching the nurse's room, Alice called out to the teacher present.

"Please, help her! She was laying unconscious in the washroom and isn't waking up!"

The teacher helped them take her in. She put her on a bed and started examining her right away. Alice was staring at her and Sasha's unconscious face as she continued to worry.

After a while, she stopped examining and turned at them.

"It's okay. She's just sleeping. A deep sleep at that. I still can't believe she was fond like that in the washroom. Did anyone of you notice her go there?"

"I did. She was looking pale when she went." Alice said without delay.

"In that case, she might be weak."

Alice nodded.

"Who's your class teacher?"

"Miss Kamp."

After that, she informed the class teacher about Sasha's condition and asked her to call her guardian. The class teacher did so. The senior students left as they had classes. But, Alice remained by Sasha's side. After some time, Sasha's mother arrived there. She was looking very worried. She hurried to her and called out her name.

"Sasha?! What happened to you?"

Alice got scared to see her expression. She wanted to calm her down as soon as possible as she knew it was nothing serious.

"Mrs. Adrene, it's okay now. The nurse said that she had collapsed due to her weakness. She's only sleeping now with no difficulties."

It didn't take her long to take in what she had said though she was utterly worried. Hearing her, she showed a sign of relief on her face.

"I see. Who are you, dear child?" She asked her after.

"I'm Alice. Sasha's best friend." She said with a grin.

Mrs. Adrene was surprised to hear that. She never thought that Sasha could ever make a friend. She couldn't be prouder. Moments later, the nurse returned to the room.

"You must be Mrs. Adrene. I have been expecting you. Please come with me for a moment."

And she went outside the room with her.  She described her the situation just as Alice had done and asked her to sign some papers for an early leave in case Sasha had to take rest for the rest of the day. Mrs. Adrene agreed and signed without hesitation.

In the mean time, while all sorts of things were going on around Sasha, she was having a dream. A dream about everything that had taken place in the dream world the time she had been there. At the end, she heard a gentle voice requesting her just as before.

"Promise me! Promise me!"

And... she opened her eyes as if she had seen a nightmare. She found herself in a white bed. Beside her was Alice, looking at her with eyes full of tears. She was confused as to why she was there and why she was crying. Before getting the chance to get up, Alice called out her name and hugged her real tight.

"I was so worried!" She said while crying.

But Sasha was still confused. As she had just gotten her memory back, the memories of after that part were a bit hazy. She tried to pull herself together. Finally she was able to tell why she was there.

"I'm sorry to make you worry, Alice," she said after a while,"I'm fine now."

Alice took a good look at her face and confirmed that she wasn't pale anymore.

"Could you let go of me now? I'm finding it hard to breath." Sasha said.

Alice realised that she was kind of strangling her out of excitement. She quickly let go and stood beside her, being embarrassed.

"S- sorry..."

Moments later, Sasha's mother reentered the room and found her awake. Sasha was a lot surprised to see her mother there. It was quite unexpected to her. Before she could say anything, her mother ran to her and hugged her.

"Sasha! I was so worried about you!" She said in a crying tone.

Sasha was so overwhelmed that she was unable to utter a word. She could not fathom what could have made such drastic changes. Was she always so loved? Sasha never thought that her mother could do that. She finally thought that she might've had the wrong idea all along.

Thinking that, she could not hold back her tears any longer. She started crying loudly as she hugged her back.

"I'm sorry, mom! I made you worry so much!" She said.

Her mother started crying loudly also and apologized as well.

"I'm sorry! For everything!"

"I'm sorry!"

"No... please forgive me!"

As the series of repeated apologies made Alice confused, she just stood there and watched the whole thing. She was glad as it seemed that Sasha's problems had been sorted out. And, it gave her hope.