Hectic! It's the only word that adequately describes this past week.

Whilst my mother has been diving headfirst into the over forties dating scene, I have been working through my own issues with Maddie. I'm still not talking to Lochie, nor do I have any intention to do so, and I'm absolutely alright with that. In fact, the longer I ignore him, the easier it is to pass him by in the hallway without my stomach retching. It's almost as if we've never been close at all. Some people might find that to be sad, but in all honesty, I feel free finally letting it go; letting him go.

Maddie and I are talking, but it isn't the same. After everything, I still can't trust her despite wishing that I could. I'd hoped we could go back to how we used to be, but I guess that's not in the cards.

Mum says these things take time, and she's not wrong. Maddie isn't the person I share things with anymore, where once she was the first person I divulged things to - the good and the bad. Now, I hold her at arm's length, protecting my heart. Maddie, now demoted to acquaintance, is still an achievement, given she was my mortal enemy just over a week ago. It is what it is, after all.

The week isn't all bad, though. Ellie and I have been talking a lot more. I knew she was nice, but getting to know her is like peeling back all the layers of an onion - yes, that's a reference to my childhood Shrek obsession. Or, and I like this analogy more, working my way through each layer of a rainbow cake. Yes! A far more fitting description of Ellie, all brightly coloured with shiny frosting.

She's like an oracle, always knowing the perfect thing to say to list my spirits or point me in the right direction. Sometimes, she even gives me the same advice as my mother, although I will never admit that to my mum. I'd never hear the end of it!

Saturday morning, opting to lounge around watching Netflix, I enjoy a late breakfast of sugary cereal. Mum's frantic about her date. I don't know why, it's just hiking. Honestly, I'm not even convinced that's a proper date, but whatever. I'm just happy to have the house to myself for a while, to lounge around lazily.

Some gorgeous, but way too old for me, guy picks mum up. I return to the couch, opening my laptop to see the messenger app, still open from when I last used it. I scroll down to Ellie's name before sending her a message. "Hey, are you awake?"

Three ellipses show her prompt reply. "Yeah, been up since 6 am. What's happening?"

Pressing the video chat button, I wait for Ellie to appear centre stage of my screen. I smile and wave in my excitement to see her face-to-face, despite the electronic medium.

"Mum's on one of those 'I'm single and ready to mingle' tangents. She's gone on a hiking date," I say, rolling my eyes, and emphasising the last two words, making inverted commas with my fingers.

Ellie laughs before replying. "So, what are you worried about? That your mum has more of a social life than you do?" she teases. "Or that you're competing for her attention?" Her eyebrows raise, calling me out on the fact of the matter.

That's the thing with Ellie. She can pinpoint exactly what I'm feeling without me needing to say it out loud. Sometimes, she even knows what I'm feeling, even when I'm confused don't know. Her intuition amazes me.

In that moment, shock veils me in disbelief. With wide- eyes and my mouth agape, the realisation of my churning thoughts and feelings sinks in. Ellie's right.

I groan, "Ugh, Ellie. Why do you always have to be on point? Can't you just be wrong for once?"

A sympathetic smile catches my eye through the computer. She nods, prompting me to delve deeper into my thoughts, venting.

Slumping my shoulders, my eyes turn downward, and I sigh. "I guess I miss her when she's out all the time. It's always just been us since dad left."

Ellie nods again, empathising with me. "That's completely understandable, Ais," she says. "Have you talked to her about it?"

An involuntary sound emits from me as my chest puffs up. "As if," I continue, "Besides, she seems happy lately, which is great. It just makes me feel like trash."

"Well, I still think you need to talk to her, but maybe you just need something to keep you busy."

"Like what?" I reply.

"I don't know," she says, pausing for a moment. "Do you enjoy reading? Or writing? What about some sort of art, painting, drawing, etc?"

"You're going to think this is stupid, but I started making these bracelets," I say, letting my words trail off.

"Excellent!" Ellie replies, sounding more excited than it am. "What else do you like doing?"

"Hmm," I say, in contemplation. "I used to love painting, but I haven't done that in ages."

"So, what are you waiting for?"

"New paints, and inspiration," I said, with a wry smile.

We chat for a while, sharing each of our new favourite songs. As we continue talking about our hobbies, Ellie shares her poems. If she knew how to play an instrument, they could've been song lyrics, honestly. It doesn't surprise me she loves writing, given her aptitude for reading people, and her insight and intuition. I'm a little jealous of that.

I update her on the whole Maddie and Lochie situation. She seems thrilled for me with my newfound freedom. Besides, it's the support from her and my mum that's helping me get there.

Amidst an irrelevant conversation, a familiar voice catches my attention. Then, over Ellie's shoulder, I see Ben. He calls out to his sister, "Ellie, we've got to get to the lake before we're late for work. Hurry."

"Give me five minutes," she says, turning her head in response. Ellie returns her gaze to face me. "Sorry, Ais. We've got to get to work. Talk tomorrow?"

"Yeah, of course," I say.

Ben's head appears over Ellie's shoulder. "Oh, hey Ais," he says, a grin forming from ear to ear. "I didn't realise you were on video chat."

Lost for words, I tried to find an appropriate response. "Well, I am." Is that really the best I can come up with? Ugh. Terrific! I press the 'end call' button after Ben and Ellie said their goodbyes, leaving me in silence.

With a sigh, and minimal motivation, I drag myself from the couch and head to the kitchen with my empty cereal bowl. Dishes from the previous night sit at the bottom of the sink, beckoning me to wash them. So, I do. For the next few hours, I busy myself with chores that I've avoided all week - vacuuming, cleaning my room, scrubbing the toilet and bathroom. By the end of it all, I'm completely exhausted!

My watch reads just after 2 pm when I glance down at my wrist. Maybe I'll take a nap. I haven't done that in a while, and honestly, I can use the extra sleep since I've not been sleeping well lately. As I lay on my bed and close my eyes, my mind returns to the conversation with Ellie and Ben. Longing to be in Lake Eldritch with them, I fell into a deep slumber.

Usually, my sleep is barren of dreams and mercifully free of nightmares, but this day is different. My mind erupts with vivid images, as if a dam had burst inside me.

Standing in a field surrounded by thick fog, I feel a chill run down my spine. The hairs on my arms prickle, and a sense of dread courses through my veins. A faint voice calls out my name, "Aislinn".

My eyes squint, trying to search for where it came from, but the fog is intense. The voice rings out again. This time it sounds earnest, desperate even. Heart beating faster from the rush of adrenaline, I push forward, blind to my pursuit. Arms outstretched, hope pulls me through the fog, searching for something to grasp onto. Nothing.

Changing directions, I swivel to my right, and continue slowly, one foot in front of the other. I focus on my feet, trying not to trip. Long strands of green wispy grass turn into a dirt path, remnants of a once stony walkway. I stop. Hope and trepidation races through my mind. Where does this lead to? Unsure whether to continue or to turn around and retrace my steps, I stand there in curious contemplation.

An almost silent whisper breathes into my ear, "Continue". And so, I do, and follow the path. The dream skips forward suddenly, and I'm standing before my house. Confused, my legs carry me voluntarily forward, and I open the door.

The inside of the house isn't my home, though. It's altogether different. In place of the usual furnishings of the lounge room is a grand foyer, empty of all but a grand wooden staircase. Sun shines through large windows garnished by long red drapes, pulled to the sides. A low sound of music drifts from somewhere, a slow, calming classical song. The familiarity strikes me, but I'm unable to recall exactly where or when I'd heard it before. The hallway is dimly lit, yet I follow the trail of the melody. As I approach an enormous set of double doors, they slowly swing open, beckoning me to enter.

A large ballroom holds my gaze, filled with men and women in black tie attire, from another era. Ballgowns spin as couples waltz around the room in synchronicity. A man approaches me with an outstretched hand. I accept it, and we take our place on the floor. We float around the room together, without speaking until the song concludes. He bows gracefully, and the room becomes eerily silent. The people have disappeared; and I'm now alone in this vast room.

My dream fast-forwards and I fly up the grand staircase to the first floor, like a bird with outstretched wings. I fly through the hallways, peeking into rooms. Bedrooms, reading rooms, and bathrooms are all adorned with antique furnishings.

At the end of the hallway, a resplendent sitting room summons me, its antique furnishings bathed in soft light. It looks familiar, and I something inside me pushes me towards it. French doors sit on the far side of the room, looking out onto a balcony. A man advances towards me, elegant in a suit and tall hat. "Welcome back, Aislinn," he says, offering his arm to escort me to the balcony.

On the balcony, I admired the manicured gardens, painted home, and joyful atmosphere.

Startled from my dream by the jarring ringtone of my phone, I grapple with the lingering sense of unease. It stopped ringing before I answer, so I leave it there, my mind still churning. My head is heavy with the remnants of my dream. Such a strange dream.

After a short while of recalling the elements of it, I realise I've been to that house before, but it didn't look like that. My mind races, connecting the dots between my dream and the faint echoes of footsteps that still resonate within the walls of the Lakeview Hollow abandoned mansion. What is the meaning behind this unsettling vision? The man had welcomed me 'back', but his youthful appearance starkly contrasted the ghostly figure I had encountered in the forest.

The unsettling dream left me with a lingering sense of unease, as if I had glimpsed a hidden world beyond my understanding. How can I possibly convey this to my mother in a way she will understand?

A few hours later, mum arrives home from her date. She hobbles to the lounge room, sitting at the end of the sofa. I perch myself on the opposite end and face her eagerly. She tells me the ins and outs of her hiking adventure, while icing her ankle. It's great to hear mum so joyful these days, and I attribute that, at least partly, to the reduction in arguments and bickering that once were frequent between us. Before we return to our old ways, I need to take Ellie's advice and talk to my mother.

"Mum," I say softly, "Can I tell you something without you being mad at me?"

Her perplexed look tells me she doesn't know what's going on in my head. "Of course you can," she replies.

"Ok, so, the thing is this, mum," I say, trying not to trip over my words or upset her. "You've been going out a lot lately..." She goes to interrupt me, but I continue before she can speak. "And I'm so happy for you that you're getting back out there, and everything. But I miss spending time with you, like we used to. You know what I mean?"

Her furrowed eyebrows soften. "Sorry, honey. I didn't know it bothered you so much. I thought you enjoyed having your space."

"I do," I say, "But, well, it gets lonely here all by myself."

She leans over towards me and embraces me in a warm hug. "I think it might be time for me to take a break from Tinder, anyway."

"I don't mean for you to stop altogether, mum. It doesn't have to be all or nothing!" I utter.

"I know, sweetheart, but I've been on three dates now and conquered my nerves. Well, a little at least. Maybe we both just need to focus on ourselves and each other for a bit."

I nod, "Sounds fair, mum. But if you meet an awesome guy and you want to see where it goes, don't not go on a date because of me. Deal?"

"Deal," she says. "Let's start with girls' night tonight?"

"Shouldn't we sort out the guest room for Jake, though? He'll be here tomorrow," I say.

Mum freezes in place, evidently forgetting our pending guest. "Damn it! How on earth did I forget that?"

I laugh heartily at her forgetfulness.

"It's alright, mum," I reassure her. "We can sort it out together."

She smiles gratefully, her eyes shining with relief. "Thank you, sweetheart. You truly are a lifesaver."

Later that night, mum and I snuggle up on the couch with a tub of choc chip cookie dough ice cream resting between us, two spoons in hand. We're watching a romantic comedy on the television when her phone beeps. I watch closely as she reads the message, her cheeks beginning to flush slightly. A spark of playfulness shone in her eyes, piquing my curiosity.

"So let me guess what that was about," I said, teasing her.

Mum bites her lip, suppressing a giggle. "It's nothing at all..." she trails off, hiding the phone behind her back, spinning away from my gaze.

I reach for the remote control on my side of the couch, pausing our movie mid-scene before standing up to face her. She tumbles down against the armrest in laughter as I snatch her phone out of curiosity; it's an invitation! Someone asked mum to go shopping with them tomorrow - specifically for items we could use to makeover our guestroom!

Mum's laughter fills the room as we share a knowing glance. I gaze at her with admiration before throwing my arm around her shoulders. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let me get dressed and let's go!"

The next day, Sunday, Olivia picks us up in her car. She's my mum's best friend, but I've known her all my life, so I consider her more an aunt than anything else.

Olivia lists an array of department and specialty shops she intends for us to visit, hoping to give our guestroom the much-needed makeover. Not only does this plan mean achieving our goal before Jake's pending arrival, but it also means spending some quality time together!

Mum and Olivia are full of ideas and energy as we go from store to store. They barter over colours that can make the furniture pop and fabrics that can give the room a certain mood. We scour the shelves, hunting for velvet and linen like as if it searching for buried treasure.

"You know, these materials can look completely different even though they're made from the same raw materials," mum says, pointing out a roll of fabric. I didn't know that but was glad for the opportunity to learn something new.

Olivia nods in agreement. "And accessories can really tie it all together." She shows me some wall art prints as examples, admiring how each one would add its own flavour to the room. Who knew there was so much to decorating? I suppose Olivia has developed this skill set working in real estate, and I make a mental note to take that information with me into the future.

Amongst the aisles of options, we ultimately select opulent bed sheets, a cozy comforter set, a variety of pillows, and a sophisticated - sheer elegance in every decision. As she approaches the cashier, her exasperated 'tsk' dances in the air, prompting shared laughter between Olivia and me. My mother, in moments like these, showcases a flair for the dramatic that adds a touch of theatre to our outings. With each purchase, we play a Tetris-like game, pushing and prodding items into the ever-diminishing space of Olivia's car trunk.

We selected curtains with intricate patterns that balance privacy and soft sunlight. Olivia and I discover fabric throws at a quaint store. We marvel at how throws effortlessly enhance the plush velvet cushions. They're almost irresistible, and Olivia purchases them despite their hefty price tags. Mum beams with pride at our selections and delivers her verdict. "It's worth every penny!"

Last, but certainly not least, we embark on the quest for an area rug that will infuse the guestroom with warmth and character. Rich colours and inviting textures promise an atmosphere of coziness and comfort.

With bags full of treasures, my mother makes her last purchase. Mission Accomplished!