JACKSON LaCRUZ followed the moving shadow in the distance of the deep‚ dark forest. It felt as if the shadow was pulling and tugging at him ‚ drawing him closer. As he continued to follow the shadow ‚ it changed its form into a huge ‚ bright ball of fire ‚ lighting up the area around him. Now he could clearly see the tall trees ‚ thick bushes and fallen leaves and branches around. He approached the ball of fire ‚ took a deep breath in ‚ and stretched out his right hand to touch it . His hand went straight through. It tickled. The ball of fire began pulling him closer to it ‚ burning his skin. As he fought back ‚ he heard his mother's voice.
"Don't fight it ‚ Jack!" ‚"Everything will be okay ‚" "It will help you‚" "Jack!" "Jack!Wake up!" "Wake up."
Jackson woke to find himself panting and sweating. He was entangled in his bed cover . He looked at his alarm clock . It was 04:00a.m. His mother's voice still echoed in his head . It had been less than a year since she had passed away. Roberta LaCruz . Loved by everyone who knew her . She was killed in a car accident. A man was drinking and driving in his car and he lost control and crashed into her car. Jackson remembered attending the funeral with his father and older brother. He remembered his mother's long‚ curly ‚ black hair ‚ her blue eyes shut tight ‚ as if she were in a deep sleep. Her pale skin and lips ‚ and the bruises on her forehead . One minute Roberta was there ‚ smiling ‚ laughing and telling her family goodbye as she left for work ‚ and the next minute she was dead and laying in a coffin. After the funeral ‚ nothing was ever the same .