The speeding car that hit Laura came out of nowhere. The impact tossed her up thrusting her above like a rocket leaving earth until she was looming over the whole solar system.
Soon an incredibly strong force blew her away sending her to a journey across the universe. She reached a planet and fell into it. On the planet's surface, she saw great devastation. It seemed as if there was a great famine or plague.
Soldiers came and forced the people to work. One citizen tried to escape but he was shot. The body was taken by the soldiers and brought to a nearby pile of bodies in the middle of the town circle. When she was seen by the soldiers, they tried to catch her. As she was running, someone caught her by the arm and hid her. Her rescuer opened a door and pushed her into a room.
It was indeed pitch black until a small flickering light emerged amidst the darkness and grew brighter until a gem is revealed before her eyes. The glowing light emanating intensified. She sees her hands reaching out to the gem and upon holding it, everything else turns white. She then sees herself in an elaborately furnished room.
The room was intricately designed and well-furnished. She was in some sort of palace and the lady in her dreams was sitting on a chair and was pointing to the nearest chair. As she was about to sit down near the lady, a well-dressed man hurriedly came in.
"Your majesty". He bowed down to the lady and then he looked at her "We need your help. Please wake up!"
Indeed, she woke up finding herself on the sidewalk across the street near their house. A crowd consisting of her parents, her mother's friend, and two strangers was looming over her.
"Oh Laura, Thank goodness you're okay." Her mother said while hugging her.
"What happened?" She tries to observe the faces around her.
"Well love, you were nearly hit by a car. Luckily, Jackie here saw you and pushed you to the side." Her father narrates.
"Yes, it's true. I saw how Jackie came out of nowhere and in the blink of an eye, she pushed you away. You both rolled down. Though she protected you, it seems you passed out but now, you're back." Her mom's friend explains.
"I am so sorry." The stranger approaches her and repeatedly apologizes. "My name is Mia. I am the one in the car. I tried my hardest to hit the brakes but thankfully Jackie saved you. Are you alright now? "
Surely, this was the first time she met Mia but Jackie seemed so familiar. It's as if she had known her for a long time.
"You seem familiar." Laura blatantly says.
"Well, I'm Jackie, your next-door neighbor." The lady explains.
"I don't remember. Since when?" Laura was puzzled. Based on what she recalls, they did not have a neighbor named Jackie.
Her mom then explains. "Well, Jackie moved in next door a few weeks ago. She's a psychiatrist and author of many books."
"Yeah, I saw you once from a distance. You were leaving your house. I guess that's why I seem familiar to you but we haven't formally met until now." Jackie lets out a soft giggle.
Laura felt very weird. Surprisingly, her mom seemed distant. Even with their outpouring of affection, it felt like they were strangers and Jackie whom she had just met was someone she had known for a lifetime. Her presence was soothing and her demeanor was so warm.
"I guess she is okay now. We don't need to call an ambulance but maybe we should bring her to the hospital for a check-up." Her mother's friend mentions.
"I don't think it would be necessary. So far, I feel fine. I don't think I have injuries." Laura then tries to examine herself for any sensations that may not feel normal. "So far, I feel A-okay. By the way, for how long was I unconscious?" Laura asks.
"Just a few minutes," Jackie responds. "Still, it would be best to have you examined by a physician."
"No need." Laura tries to stand up. Her father stays at her back trying to aid her to get up while the rest looked on. "I'm fine, really. If I feel anything strange, I will let you all know. Thank you all for looking out for me."
"Alright then, I have to go. If you need any help, I'm just next door. It was nice meeting you all." Jackie raised her hand nearly waving good bye and took leave.
"I will be going too but should anything occur, let me know. I'll be glad to accompany you to the doctor. Here is my card so you can reach me." Mia handed it over to Laura. After making sure the patient is fine, Mia returns to her car and drives off.
The couple then helps their daughter into the house and allows her to lie down on the sofa. When they were all settled in, the family friend bids them goodbye as well. The mother accompanies the friend to the door. As soon as the guest leaves, she hurries back to Laura and asks.
"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?" Her mom asks.
"Why didn't you tell me I'm adopted?" Laura blurted out.
"I am so sorry darling. We've always thought there was no need to tell you about the adoption. We loved you as our known that we thought it best not to tell you." Her mom's voice was emotional.
"I realized now that we should have told you the truth. You deserve that right." Her father adds.
"Who are my real parents then?"
"We honestly do not know honey. We were having a vacation and we found you when we were hiking. We brought you to the nearest hospital to check if you were okay. We reported you to social workers but no one came to collect you so we decided to adopt you. After all, we felt you were heaven-sent." Her father paused as he brought out a newspaper clipping. The article says "Couple adopts baby they rescued in the mountains."
Her mom gasps upon seeing the article and the father explains. "I kept it hidden from sight all these years. If there was a need for you to know, I had this because there is no record of your true parents. Perhaps, this is the only thing about your past should you ever ask me." He looks down at the floor.
"Is Jason adopted too?" She asks.
Her mother shares the story. "No, he's not but he was a miracle. I never thought we'd be able to conceive again. I had a miscarriage. My chances to have a baby after that seemed bleak but Jason came. So many blessings came into our lives and they started when we adopted you. You are truly heaven-sent."
"I'm a bit tired. I should go to my room now." She pulls herself out of the couch and heads upstairs. Upon reaching her old room, she marveled at the nostalgia within it. Her old warm bed was tidy. She scans the childhood posters and pictures on the wall. She took down photos containing Kathleen and Steve and threw them in the trash bin.
Evening came and her mom comes into her room to inform her that dinner is ready. However, she pretends to fall asleep so her mom leaves.
The next day, she goes down early for breakfast joining her parents. It has been a while since she shared a meal with her family. Not for long, the doorbell rang. She volunteers to get the door thinking it might be her brother.
To her surprise, it was Steve and Kathleen. Upon seeing them, Laura turns her back to avoid them.
"How are you, Laura?" Steve says.
She looks back. "The nerve of you to come here!"
Her mom interferes. "Dear, Steve called last night and I told him what happened. They're just concerned so they asked to come over and –
"GO AWAY!" She emphasized.
Her mother rushed to the guests and guided Steve and Kathleen away. Softly, she was whispering to the visitors. "Maybe you can come back tomorrow. By then, her mood might change. She must still be overwhelmed."
"NO! DON'T EVER COME BACK!!! EVER!" She tried to yell as loud as she could and walked away.
Her mother then escorts the two visitors away telling them to visit another time. She then turns back to her daughter. "I know they've wronged you but you should at least hear them out."
"No, they betrayed me. How could they possibly have the nerve to face me?"
"Dear, they are remorseful for whatever they did. They are your lifelong friends; you should talk to them." Her mother says.
"That's the point. They're my friends. How could they do this to me?"
"I know I should side with you because you are my daughter but in the light of fairness, you have to understand sometimes life goes out of control. No matter how much we stir it into the direction." Her father speaks. "I'm sure they care for you and that they wanted to be loyal. They won't be this regretful if they didn't."
"I am loyal to them. I never dated anyone else. I never had any other best friend. How could they do this to me?"
"This is but a challenge honey. You better talk to them and work things out. Only through communicating will you realize if they deserve to stay in your life. If not now, maybe soon." He smiles as he steps forward and kisses her forehead. "I will be late for work. Meanwhile, do take your rest and maybe we can eat out later. Is that okay?"
"That would be nice. Is Jason coming?"
"Of course. I really got to go now. See you later." He squeezes her shoulder while trying to reach his wife. After planting a soft kiss on his spouses' head, he then takes leave.
Her mom also had other errands. "I need to go to the market. Do you need anything?"
"No mom, I'm good. Thank you anyway."
"Alright, dear. I'm going to go now. I'll be quick."
Indeed, her mom returns just as Jason arrives. "How are you? I missed you, sis." She responds.
"I'm okay. I'm so glad to see you, Jason. I missed you too scruffy." They both let go and she scrunches his hair with her fingertips. Both of them giggle.
"I have a gift for you. I asked Jackie for some help. You know Jackie, right?"
"Yes, I know."
"Have you heard of Dr. D.H. Martin? He's the author of medical textbooks mostly about Psychiatry. He is Jackie's colleague. I got you an appointment and you can go next door as early as tomorrow."
"Oh, so he has a clinic in his home?" Laura inquires.
"Yes, he and Jackie accept clients next door. They claim to be just friends but I don't know. Maybe there's something." He laughs.
"I don't feel like going," Laura admits but Jason begs her to reconsider.
"Come on Laura, I already told Jackie you're coming over. Besides, you owe Jackie for saving your life."
"Yes, and I know that you need to see them, especially at this moment in your life. It's about time you cared about your mental health as well as your physical conditions." Her mom seconds the motion.
"And you know, the doctor is so handsome. I'm sure you won't be disappointed." She was quite surprised when her mother suddenly winked after saying her piece.
"Alright, I will go then." Laura finally agrees to their wishes.
The siblings then bond together on the couch watching TV just like before. The day flies by and the family dines out.
Just before going to bed that night, Laura contemplates. The turn of events was really odd. She wasn't used to her family like this. They were warm and kind but there was something absolutely odd about everything that is happening. Like there was a magical spell cast on everyone.
Everything from the arrival of Laura Lee in their company, Steve and Kathleen's affair, Jackie, her family's behavior, and these dreams that started to plague her for months now. All these events seemed intertwined.
The next day, she went to the house next door and knocked. Dr. Martin's staff received her and led her into his home clinic. She tells Laura to sit first and wait because the doctor is just wrapping up some work.
While waiting for him; she scanned the room and observed the strange interiors. It was something no one has seen before yet it seemed familiar to her.
Then, a man in a lab gown came in. "Good afternoon, Ms. Lopez. I am Dr. Martin." He extends out his hand. His face was very familiar. She had seen his face before. It seems she had seen it not only in her dreams but also in the streets during her waking hours.
She squints her eyes and as she looked at him again, different scenes flashed in an instant. She views him in full armor fighting with soldiers.
Another scene depicts him dressed as a young prince reading and writing with her clad in a royal wardrobe while a teacher looks on. More images flash through her head like a kaleidoscope of colors until her senses come back.
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to be rude." She felt as if she stared at him for hours. "Please call me Laura."
"It's okay Laura, I get that a lot." He tries to hide his grin. "Please sit here. Make yourself comfortable and we'll begin soon."
When she sat down, he began his query. "So, are you still haunted by your dreams?"
"How do you know about my dreams?" Laura was stunned.
Before he could answer, the door opened and to her surprise, it was Jackie. "I'm sure you are confused but let me explain to you how we know."