LOCKS OF HAIR FLEW FROM THE OPEN WINDOW, A SMILE ON HER FACE, A HAND REACHING TO THE FIELDS BEYOND.
The floral smell of the air freshener filled her senses, mixing with the pure air rushing into the vehicle. Her eyes were closed, the corners crinkling, shifting the light sprinkle of freckles along her features. The usual blonde ringlets flew in her face, frizzing, creating patterns in the wind. Sunglasses were perched on the edge of her nose.
Wheels spun as the car made it's way along the road, fields of flowers both sides, telephone poles lining one. The hum of the engine was drowned out by the radio, an eighties song blasting through the speakers. A tractor rolled through a field, few trees lining their borders.
Hands gripped on the steering wheel, their senses thrown off by the unfamiliarity of driving on the left-hand side of the road. His grin matched hers, his eyes darting to his right, taking in her peaceful state. She'd begged for the pair to visit her home-country, to visit family she barely remembered. It was a surprise, she'd said. He gave in easily, doing anything for the girl. Before he knew it they'd booked tickets, a hotel, and a rental car. They'd arrived at the airport, picked up their car, and drove out to the distant country. Three hours later, and all he could see was fields and fields of flowers, wheat, and who knows what else.
The sun blasted through the windows, the air conditioning wouldn't have made a dent in the heat. The middle of summer, they'd come. Right after a cold Christmas. Beside their jetlag and the sudden temperature change from being on the other side of the world, they were happy.
More than happy.
He reached out, curling his hand around hers. The sudden movement caused her to snap her head to his direction, her smile never leaving her face. Leaning her head on the headrest, her eyes fluttered open, sunglasses slipping down her face.
"Not too far now."

She raised a blonde brow, "Really?"

He let out a breach, eyes darting from hers to the road, and back again, "Yeah..."

She retracted her hand from outside the window, resting it on her thigh, on top of the floral dress she donned. The red, orange, and yellow flowers swirled around on the dark fabric, the material hugging her chest before breaking off into loose ends, hanging around her knees.
She squeezed his hand, once, twice, "I love you."

"I love you too."

He—

Hair flung in her face as she sat up, white sheets twisted around her legs, strands plastered to the back of her neck. She pushed them aside, counting to ten, taking in the familiar objects around the room.
One, two, three...
The white sheets, white walls, paintings, cupboards, the window to her left.
Four, five, six, seven...
Carpet, door, mirror, desk, phone.
Eight, nine, ten.

Once she hit ten, her mind had calmed, her muscles relaxing.
Her dream was unlike the others she had, and waking up as soon as the clock struck one every morning...there was something up. She had not told her boyfriend, nor her guardian (guardians? She was never quite sure). It was a fact that she kept to herself, but the dream that night...
In her mind, it was the worst one yet.
The pleasant scene was something out of a fairytale, something she was unable to deal with. It brought feelings to the surface that she wasn't ready for at that time of the day. It was too early. Way too early.
But the dreams were happening every night, and she woke up at the same time each night. It had been happening for weeks...

She shook her head, untangled herself from under the doona and sheets, and slipped out of her room.