I woke up, my bed was soft and warm but, not as warm as the man.

I wanted to go back, be in his arms once more... But this is real life. Not a dream. I keep reminding myself that he was just a figment of my imagination. And to continue on with life.

So, I peel off my covers and start my day. The same question bouncing around in my head. Who was that man and why does he care for me?

I should introduce myself. My name is Kara Winchester. I'm nineteen years old and I currently work at a coffee shop in south Oregon. My life is simple, always has been. I've never had the need of anything. My family was pretty well off when I was a kid, and I only work at the shop for food and other household items since my dads best friend owns the apartment building.

But, here's the catch. I don't believe in a God. (A/N it literally hurts to write this!) I never have and have never seen a need to do so.

So I don't. I'm an Atheist.

My parents do... But I never really got the hang of it. I stopped listening to their messages when I was about seven.

Why would we need a God? Why would he even care for us?

I don't have the answer.

So, getting up and dressing in simple clothing, I ran downstairs and headed to work.

*+*+*+*
When I got there, the counter was filthy, the curtains needed to be washed, there were sunflower seed shells sprinkling the floor, and the coffee machine was out for the count. Probably needed that to run the shop.

I got to work, straight away. I cleaned the counters, I called the mechanic, I scrubbed the curtains, I sweeped and mopped the floors, and I tried to control Anne, the new employee that couldn't care less about any of this. She was always in the back room, reading her Bible.

She invited me to church. I politely declined, simple as that. I didn't want to sit in two hours of church service!

Once the mechanic was done and we had five minutes until the shop opened, I let myself into the back room and relaxed, already exhausted.

Anne came in and smiled at me. She was a okay worker, when she wasn't quoting the Bible to a customer or trying to convert people.

I politely smiled back and she, of course, picked up her Bible. She had dark brown hair and light blue eyes that matched our uniforms. Her parents were poor and her life was, some times, pretty much awful. Her father died when she was young and her mother took to traveling on business trips all around the world.

So, if she believed in God and her life was like that, and I don't believe in God and my life is like this. Must be a flaw.

I hear the bell ring on the door to the shop and I get up to walk out to greet them. Then I see who they are.

Tommy, Mal, and the Christian lay-offs as I call them.

Really, they are Thomas Wall, Mallary Brennon and their Bible Study group. They meet every Tuesday, and Thursday morning for Bible study. Most people, besides Tommy and Mal, are adults who've been laid off from their jobs and have no money, they come crawling to Bible Study in hopes that some God will take their worries away!

As if

I put on my best, fake, smile and walk to the group, bringing the usual black coffee and glazed donuts. Just like policemen. Only worse.

"Anything else?" I ask. Everyone looks over at me and seems to deem me uninteresting because they look away. Everyone but Tommy and Mal.

"No thanks, Kara" Mal says, smiling at me.

"Hey, want to join our group? We're studying Matthew this week!" Tommy says, flashing me those brilliant white teeth.

Now I had to admit, he was cute. In a sort of 'good boy' way. I laughed, as if to say 'not happening bub' Their smiles faltered for a second.

"Well, you could give it a try" Mal said. She was about seventy three and had the 'grandma' feel about her. I smiled at her but shook my head, she may be nice and I don't want to be rude, but I really couldn't care less.

"What's weighing your heart down?" Tommy says. "The Lord is calling for you, I can feel it." He says, staring at me like I'm the worlds biggest puzzle.

"That was nosy" I say pointing at him. "Nothing's weighing me down. I just know better than to believe in this-"

"Whoa now" Tommy says when my voice gets angry. "Now, you were saying. Nicely." He adds.

I sigh and sit down next to him. "Nothing's weighing me down. I've just been having this dream every night for the past couple of weeks and, they're complicated." I finish, staring anywhere but the Bible Study group who are now watching me really closely.

"Kara, tell me about your dream, please" Mal asks. I look up at her kind face and spill.

"It starts with me running, I'm running from this blackness that keeps getting closer and closer. I start to stumble over twigs and branches and stuff. Then I see this bright light and I run into it. Someone hugs me and says that he's been waiting for me. Then I fall out of his arms and am grappled by the being. It makes me fall even more. But the man reaches out a hand and pulls me back to him. Then I wake up." I say, reliving the dream. "It was like I was actually there, I had emotions and thoughts and everything." I finish.

Tommy and Mal look at each other and back to me. Tommys brown hair falling in his eyes slightly.

"I think Gods trying to tell you about your journey to him. Warn you that it will be difficult but worth it in the end" Tommy says softly. I snap out of my trance and get up from the table on a whim.

"I need to work" I say shortly, walking away. Tommy and Mal exchange glances from behind my back, like they know something I don't and its bad.

You know what? They're the ones who got all up into my personal life! The members always do that.

I rush back over to the counter and pretend to be working, ignoring the glances Tommy and Mal are sending me.