But he that dares not grasp a thorn should never crave the rose.
-Anna Bronte
Serene woke up with a scream. She was drenched in sweat, panting hard. She looked around the room, half expecting the door to open any minute now. With a sigh of relief she realized that it was just a nightmare and she was far away from that night. She was safe.
She got up from the bed and went to look outside the window. It had been so long since that night, but her nightmares were still too vivid; they still haunted her. Not as frequent as they used to, but whenever they came, they brought back chilling memories.
The phone rang, bringing her back to the present. She glanced at the clock, noting it was 3'o clock. She crossed the room and reached for the phone. "Hello?" she said and sat on the bed.
"Hi! Rena, how are you?"
"Mike. Oh Thank God you called! You know how Jess gets upset if you don't call"
"Seems like, she is not the only one."
"Yeah right, where have you been?"
"Well, I was busy…. These conferences don't give much time to a person for leisure."
"But you could have at least called," retorted Serena, who was annoyed because of the nightmare she had.
"Yeah I know, but after attending workshops, seminars, conferences, whoever has the strength to stay awake. Much less call someone."
"Hmmm… sorry I guess. I thought you had free time," Serene said as she realized she spoke a bit rudely to her brother-in-law.
"Apology accepted, now, where's my girl?" inquired Mike.
"Jess is asleep after crying for almost an hour. Only a huge bowl of ice cream could calm her down along with the bribe of a good bedtime story."
"Thanks Rena for taking care of my li'l hurricane for me."
"No prob. Just come back soon as you promised."
"Will sure do," Mike promised.
"OK. Take care now. See ya," Rena hung up the phone and went to check in on Jess in the adjoining room.
She looked so innocent while sleeping, Serena thought, and how much she resembles her mom? Serena went inside the room and looked closely, enjoying a little peace and quiet and also marveling at her niece. Serena's sister was an artist and was in one of her tours when she had met Mike. They soon fell in love and had Jess just one year after their marriage. She had gone to Paris for an exhibition and had died in an accident. Since then Mike had been taking care of his daughter, but when he had to leave country for his business, he left her with Serena.
Serena sighed; looking at her niece and yet again was amazed at how alike she was her mother. Long lashes, which Serena knew hid almond shaped green eyes, casting a long shadow on her cheeks. Hair, the shade of darkest black, lay ruffled on her head. She smiled, checked the windows and doors once again as was her habit and went back to her bed. She had a long day ahead of her, she thought, better get some sleep. Switching off the light, she lay on the bed and was fast asleep.
On the street outside her house, a man saw the lights go off. He stood there another moment and then turned towards the motel.