The strong feelings that I’d had for Daniel during our brief encounter had gone again. I did not want to see him again. It was Ben I wanted right then. But was he avoiding me? Was he trying to warn me to go home just to keep me away from Daniel? Gazing up at the sky I wondered why they didn’t seem to like each other. The incident by the lockers when Ben tried to kiss me, then nearly getting into a fist fight over me... It was just a harmless kiss that I wanted from Ben at that moment in time, just as I had wanted from Daniel a moment before. I figured that liking boys was too complicated. Maybe I should just stick to keeping myself to myself really. I was not one for superstitions yet I’d had nothing but trouble since I’d met them.
Still gazing up at what I could make out of the sky, I hadn’t realised someone had knelt down by my side.
‘Grace, are you ok?’
I recognised the voice instantly, of all the people it had to be it was him, it had to be Ben. Was it not actually him who’d run away from me before?
Again, his soothing voice spoke to me. ‘Grace, please answer me, are you ok?’
As much as I wanted to answer him back, I couldn’t find my voice, I just didn’t have the strength in me to speak. What had come over me? He tried to look me in the eye but still my vision was unclear, and I couldn’t return his gaze. I felt his hands touch my cheeks then he placed a hand onto my forehead.
‘Oh no, Grace, please stay with me, follow my voice and stay with me. I knew I shouldn’t have let Daniel go near you. What has he done to you?’
Far as I knew Daniel had not done anything to me. What could Ben be on about? I felt him collect me up into his arms and cradle me whilst walking along the pathway. Then again, I must have passed out.
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I opened my eyes into an unfamiliar room. My gaze saw a candle, burning on a windowsill and the orange flame danced gracefully throwing the smell of toasted marshmallows into the air. The next thing I saw was a framed picture of a white wolf and next to the wolf was a silhouette of red; it looked like a red cloak, worn by a young girl. This illustration of Red Riding Hood drew my eyes to it and I found it impossible to look away. There was not a speck of dust on the glass that protected the picture. The girl was holding onto the wolf like she needed protection and he was her guardian, as if she feared someone or something just out of sight. I wanted to get even closer to the picture and touch it. I could feel what this young girl was feeling and thought that maybe if I touched it, I would get the same reassurance that she herself craved from the wolf. As I tried to move, my body would not allow me the strength to do so. My focus moved on to other areas of the room I was in. The bed I had been placed on was so comfy and spacious, there was enough room for some else to lay by my side. The duvet had cocooned over me nicely. I was that comfortable I had not noticed I was wearing next to nothing. Where was I and who did this room belong to? I opened my mouth to yell out but still no words cam. My eyes became heavy again and I tried to fight off the tiredness that struck me, but it was no use, my body gave in and I had slipped into another deep sleep.
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I opened my eyes and I was back in the snow of my previous dream. I was wearing my favourite red coat with the hood up, gazing up into the sky to look at the snowflakes falling down upon me, one landing right on the tip of my nose. I felt the coldness of the snowflake upon my face and then as it melted against the warmth of my skin. A slight shiver ran through me. Then, there was a male figure before me. It was Ben and this time he was not acting strangely towards me or keeping his distance from me as he had been on the pathway. He was standing in clear view right in front of me with a slight smile on his face as if he was also happy to see me. He wore a thick, black coat and snow boots.
‘Ben, I can’t believe this, you are actually right here in front of me.’
‘Hello Grace.’ He spoke to me so softly
‘What is this place Ben? I’ve been here before with you.’
‘This is the realm between our world and the spirit world. There is so much you need to know Grace, but at the moment you are not ready for it.’
‘Ready for what? I don’t understand, what is happening with me?’
‘Shh, you will know someday, I promise.’
He moved in closer and put his arms out. I fell straight into his warmth and let him hold me for a moment. Calmed, I did not
