The Entry

RED

                      
"Red! Be careful," a soft, feminine voice called out, its cautionary tone barely registering in my blissful state. I rolled in the grass, reveling in the sensation of dirt on my face and the gentle caress of a warm breeze against my skin.

"Ouch!" I cried out, a tear welling in my eye as I suddenly collided with something hard. Confusion gripped me as I realized there were no trees in our backyard.

"No, there isn't" a voice spoke beside me. Startled, I scrambled to my feet and turned toward the source of the collision. Standing before me was an older boy, his presence both enigmatic and captivating.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity. Silence hung in the air for a moment, his gaze fixed on me, seemingly ignoring my question. Then, without a word, he extended his arm and gently touched my forehead, causing a rosy blush to bloom on my cheeks.

"You hit your head on my back. I hope you're alright," he finally spoke, his tone difficult to decipher. But my attention was drawn to his eyes, a soft shade of blue that I found myself inexplicably drawn to. Blue, my favorite color.

"Mine's Green," he whispered, seemingly to himself, before adding, "I mean, that's my favorite color." My heart skipped a beat as a sense of dread washed over me. Had I accidentally voiced my thoughts?

"No, you didn't," he assured me, his voice tinged with amusement. "How are you doing that? Are you a witch?" I blurted out, my brows furrowing as I contemplated whether I should be afraid of this boy.

He chuckled, his hand leaving my forehead. "I'm no witch, Little Red," he replied, a playful pout on his lips.

"Little?" I frowned, my temper flaring. "For your information, mister, I turn 9 today." A soft laugh escaped him, melting away my anger. What was wrong with me today?

"What's your name?" I asked, hoping to fill the silence. His figure began to fade, his voice drowned out by static. I was losing him.

Splash!

Startled, I jolted awake, feeling water drenching my body. Shock and confusion coursed through me as I tried to make sense of my current state. Laughter erupted in the room, and I turned to see my aunt holding an empty jug, a mischievous grin on her face.

"What the butt, Aunt!" I exclaimed, frustration welling up inside me.

"Quit your whining and get ready, young lady. It's your first day of college," she admonished, her tone firm. Receiving no response, she yanked at my blanket, urging me to get up.

Sighing, I sat up in bed, forcing a fake grin. "Yay! I'm so excited to delve into another death pool right after escaping one," I muttered under my breath, before standing up and making my way to the bathroom.

"Oh, come on, dear. I'm sure this time will be different and possibly even more exciting," Aunt May suggested, her words causing my eyes to roll. I remembered the last time she used that word—it had landed me in the hospital after a dare at a birthday party last year.

I didn't bother replying and entered the bathroom, but before I could close the door, I heard Aunt May call my name.

"Almost forgot," Aunt May said as I turned to face her. In an instant, she enveloped me in a warm hug. "Happy birthday, Red," she whispered, before pulling away abruptly and leaving my room.

I approached the mirror, gazing at my reflection as fragments of the dream I had just experienced continued to replay in my mind. I analyzed every detail, desperately trying to make sense of it all. Who was that boy? Why did he feel so familiar, yet so unknown? Strangely, I wasn't afraid of him. In fact, I found solace in his presence, as if he could read me like an open book.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I heard Aunt May's voice calling me downstairs. "Red, you're running late! Hurry up and come down," she urged, her words jolting me back to reality.

"I'm almost done, Auntie!" I shouted, rushing through my shower with lightning speed, determined to meet the demands of the day.

Oh, right. Today was my 19th birthday, and I had no plans to celebrate it. Most girls would be out partying with friends or going on romantic adventures with their boyfriends. But birthdays, especially in my younger years, were marked by sorrow and tears. I would always lament in Aunt May's arms, longing for friends. However, I had grown older and wiser, learning not to shed tears over such trivial matters.

I descended the stairs,greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and Aunt May's beaming smile. She had prepared a small breakfast spread on the dining table, complete with pancakes, scrambled eggs, and a colorful fruit salad.

"Happy birthday, dear!" Aunt May exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I thought we could start the day off with a special breakfast just for you."

I practically skipped towards Aunt May, my heart filled with an indescribable joy that could only be attributed to her presence. As I approached her, a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of my lips, and I couldn't contain my excitement any longer. I wrapped my arms tightly around her from behind, startling her with my exuberance.

"Aunt May, do you know why I love you?" I beamed, my voice brimming with affection and admiration. The warmth that emanated from her was unparalleled, and I couldn't help but express my adoration.

She feigned confusion for a brief moment, her eyebrows furrowing as she pretended to ponder the question. Then, a mischievous grin spread across her face, and I knew that she was playing along. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she met my gaze.

"Because I'm the best," she replied, her voice filled with playful pride. I nodded eagerly in agreement, unable to contain my smile. It was true; she truly was the best person in my life.

The only fragment of my past that remained etched in my mind was Aunt May. She was my guiding light in a sea of forgotten memories. Our paths converged when I was a mere ten years old, and since that moment, she had spared no effort in unraveling the enigma of my lost recollections. Countless doctors were consulted, but their expertise proved futile against the impenetrable fortress guarding my past. Eventually, Aunt May resigned herself to the notion that my memories were forever locked away, beyond the reach of even the most skilled practitioners.

"Obviously, you are the best because only the best can make this amazing dish," I quipped, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of my lips. The compliment elicited a warm, satisfied smile from Aunt May, a crimson hue spreading across her pale cheeks. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight, unable to contain my amusement.

Aunt May was not just my guardian; she was my favorite person in the entire world. I wished everyone could experience the unwavering love and support she offered. Yet, in the darkest recesses of my mind, I couldn't help but yearn for the presence of my long-lost parents, even if it was just for a fleeting moment.

"Okay, enough with the flattery. Now eat fast. You have a long day ahead of you," Aunt May interjected, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. I made my way to the dining table, the weight of the impending day's challenges already settling upon my shoulders.

"So..." she began, her tone heavy with amusement. I settled into one of the chairs, bracing myself for whatever she was about to say. "Did you see him?"

Ah, here we go again.

"Aunt!" I exclaimed, my reaction almost causing me to spill my drink.

"What? I'm just curious," she shrugged, her arms raised in a gesture of innocence that did little to convince me.

"You're always curious," I retorted, glaring at her, attempting to mask my embarrassment with a facade of annoyance.

Ah, him. The mysterious figure whose face remained forever hidden from my sight, yet haunted my thoughts incessantly. Truth be told, I found myself strangely captivated by his piercing blue eyes. It may sound absurd and pitiful, a lonely girl like me conjuring an idealized version of a man in her dreams, but the truth remained that I never asked for this.

It all began when I turned sixteen. During an innocent afternoon nap, I first encountered him in the realm of dreams. He exuded warmth and friendliness, his words flowing gently like a soothing melody. At first, I attributed it to my binge-watching sessions of the vampire diaries, which inevitably fueled a desire for a dream guy like him. However, as time passed, these encounters became recurrent, turning into a bewildering pattern that defied rational explanation.

I yearned for him to exist in reality, a desire that both fascinated and unnerved me. I yearned for him to desire me in return. But life is no fairy tale, and though I couldn't see his face, I knew deep in my heart that he belonged to the realm of the "boy next door" archetype, the kind who would never spare a glance in the direction of plain and unnoticeable individuals like me.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Aunt May's voice jolted me back to the present, snapping me out of my reverie. Avoiding her gaze, fully aware of the smirks that would grace her face, I coughed, attempting to divert the conversation.

"It's nothing like that. I was just...trying to..." I stumbled over my words, failing to conjure a plausible excuse. Well, let's change the subject, shall we?

Brushing her off, I asked, "Um, should I walk to my new hell, or are you going to drive me there?"

Aunt May sighed, defeated by my tactics, fully aware of my intentions. "Of course! I'm driving you there, hun." She gathered her bag from the table and made her way to the door.

"Okay then, let's go," I muttered, hastily finishing my food and depositing my empty plate in the sink. As I reached for the door, a sudden jolt of electricity surged through me, halting me in my tracks. Bewildered, I scanned the area beyond the door, searching for the source of this unexpected sensation. Surprisingly, there was nothing there. How peculiar.

"Hey, are you coming?" Aunt May's voice called out from inside the car, breaking the spell. Shaking off my confusion, I collected myself and walked towards the car, slipping into the passenger seat. Closing the door behind me, I remained dazed, still grappling with the inexplicable occurrence.

Resting my head against the headrest, I attempted to clear my mind, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of the car's interior. However, Aunt May's concerned voice pierced through the haze, pulling me back to reality.

"Are you alright, sweetie?" I opened my eyes to find her gazing at me with worry etched across her face.

"I'm good," I reassured her, sitting up straight to meet her gaze properly.

"Are you sure? You looked kind of lost out there," she persisted, her brows furrowing in genuine concern.

"Oh, no! It's just...as I was about to come, I felt this strange shock, and it freaked me out. But I'm fine now," I replied, lowering my head and staring at my lap, hoping to avoid any accusations of madness, as had become all too common among my high school peers.

To my relief, Aunt May's response was not filled with incredulity or judgment. Instead, I heard her take a deep breath, her voice turning somber as she whispered, "I hope it's not what I'm thinking."

What did she mean by that? Before I could question her further, the engine roared to life, signaling the end of our conversation before it had even begun.

Aunt May drove with an unusual swiftness, her face drained of color. Anxiety began to coil within me, tightening its grip with each passing moment. I refrained from probing further, knowing that she would deflect my questions. Instead, I turned my gaze towards the window, seeking solace in the fleeting beauty of the passing scenery.

Yet, my mind remained preoccupied with the earlier incident. It felt like a premonition, a foreboding sense that a tempest of challenges was approaching, ready to consume me whole. And it couldn't help but feel it was heading fast.

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