" Diana! "

I feel hard jolts on my shoulder while screams of my name invade my ears compelling me to open my eyes wide, gasping for air at the same time. I see my parents vigorously rubbing my palms while I sucked in a huge amount of air.

My mother frantically cupped my face, palmed my forehead with worry clouded face. I see father's lips moving but I couldn't make out his words due to annoying and screching noise proliferating in my ears. And then, it came crashing down on me , Mary's lifeless body.

I threw the warm quilt away from my body and tried to tell my parents about everything. It was the most tedious task of my life as I couldn't even form words. Instead of hearing me out, my mother sticks me to her bosom and rubs my back.

What is she consoling me? They should run to see Mary. I was about to detangle my body from hers , but then I hear her saying, " It was a nightmare, baby. "

She keeps repeating until my body regains the composure and finally, the realisation dawned upon him.

My tongue darted out to wet my chapped lips and I still find myself in a chaotic state.

Mother holds me tightly and her voice said it all that how panicked she was, " You were screaming when we came in your room. "
Father didn't say anything, trying to put up a brave face but I could detect her worry for me.

The vividness of the dream has completely consumed my mind and words were on tip of my tongue to confess, still, I decided against it. My parents were already worried, and I didn't want to add more into it. Trying my level best to smile, I assured them,
" I saw a bad dream but can't remember anything. "

I press my throbbing temples in an attempt to forget whatever I saw. Mary's pleadings were still echoing in my head and it took a lot for me to believe that it was a nightmare, a bad dream which stole the daylights out of me. I had no idea of the time I simply stayed on the bed after ushering my parents out. Their constant worry made me feel so guilty for waking them up.

After absorbing in the reality, I finally decided to peak out of the window to see what hour it was, a much convenient option than going in the hall and see a clock. I had no strength whatsoever to leave my room's comfort. The white bedsheet had patches of my sweat reminding me once again that how authentic the horror was.

When I removed the white curtains, an involuntary gasp eluded from my lips. It was the same reddish hue of dawn which I saw in the dream while looking out from Mary's window. The mere sight of it made me tremble and after hurriedly closing the curtains, I cover my ears with palms and squeeze my eyes shut, rocking back and forth.

It was a mere coincidence, right?

Who was I even asking?

I can breath in relief only if I Mary with my own eyes. And that's what I plan do. I was more than eager to go to institution and hug her.

Only if I knew...

****

The room which used to echo with ladies's melodious songs was now filled with horrifying hiccups. Young girls were mourning, trying to subside their sniffles. Nobody could believe that everyone's favourite and youngest amongst us, Mary was no more.

I was frozen.

Standing near one of the corners, I was in a numb trance of terror. Yesterday , lovely Mary came hopping, and gave me the cupcake, now she was gone, needles to say, forever. I saw her dead twice, once in my dream while other in reality and both of the times, I was bemused.

I sniffled hard recalling that scene. In a short span of fifteen days, I had grown so fond of her. Now, the bubbly and chirpy girl was laying down, static. Her white skin of pink undertone had turned horrifically pale. Aftermath of death, I believe.
I saw other girls talking to each other, maybe comforting, but I was still shaking with fear. I certainly had the grief but fear outshined it. I hadn't told anyone about what I saw in the dream nor do I intend to because for that, I need to speak. How could I?

Till this morning, the most horrible thing was that damned nightmare, but now horrendous shreds of reality
has completely ruined me. It wasn't only her death, it was the coherence of reality and nightmare for me.

The moment I stepped in Miss Meredith's two storey, rustic home, I saw girls mourning. That was a sight enough to fright me. Flashes of Mary crawled in my mind and in those moments I knew, something bad has happened.

I entered in and approached Miss Meredith who herself was hiccuping.
With a great difficulty, she told me, bringing my nightmare to life.

My heart paralyzed with terror and sadness.

Miss Meredith said, " Early morning, Mary fell down from stairs and severe head injury made her bleed to death. "

My spine chilled and I could legit feel something creeping in my body. My legs seemed to made up of soft puddle, unable to support my body weight and I stumbled back, falling down in process.
Few truths shine bright like a day, yet, you want to slip into oblivious darkness just to seek comfort. So do I, only if that was possible.

" Diana! "

Miss Meredith crouched down next to me. She thought I was grief struck, omitting out my fears. How wrong she could be? I understood that day, grief addled with fear is worst thing ever.

She held me, weeping, " She never wakes up so early, I don't know what happened but we hear her screams and before anyone could help her, she fell down. "

She was speaking while I was reincarnating everything. This isn't happening! I could barely nod my head at her regardless of what she was speaking.

Miss Meredith's grief didn't let her see my miser state and honestly, I didn't want her to.

I had never imagined that an institution bursting with giggles and fists of young girl would resemble a mourning hell. Morning went into mourning and arranging little girl's funeral. The nearest graveyard was chosen to bury her body and at the moment, her coffin was laying in the small garden of Miss Meredith.

I hiccuped hard when Hannah, another girl of my age, ushered me to pay my last homage to sweet Mary. All of this was too scary to be real.

Somehow, I managed to drag my feet. Bending a bit, I placed a sunflower on Mary's coffin, and though I tried hard to not cry bitterly, I did. I was petrified, I didn't know what to do or whose help shall I seek.

I felt someone's support on my shoulder and I turn around to see Rosaline.

In general, she despises my presence, she had always given me cold shoulder. In our singing lessons, she always made sure to sit away from me. Whenever eyes collided, her stares used to creep me out. Even I never tried to break the ice. I already had enough friends.

It was surprising that she even acknowledged my presence. In the state which I was, I welcomed it anyways.

Her eyes were stoic and hollow, looking at me.

In emotionless voice, she told me,
" Classes will not summon today, I shall advice you to go home. Your house is far away and darkness will scare you. "

As much as I hate her to be precise, I think she's saying the truth. I don't know what made her say that with assurity, but it was cryptic. Maybe, I was over estimating everything. All of it was messing with my head and I can't wait to get away from everything and just lay in mother's lap.

I nodded at her and was about to take my leave, but she held my hand.
I frowned at her, unable to fathom her when she spoke, " it's strange but I've found this letter in Mary's room. The envelope has your name written on it. "

My heartbeat increased when she handed me a yellowish white envelope which had following words scribbled on it -

' From Mary,
To Sister Diana '

All of this was traumatizing and I just wanted to sedate myself. Am I any missing piece of this entire puzzle? A little girl has lost her life whose death I see in my dreams, then I find a letter written to me by her.

" Diana, read it carefully. "