I smelled the ocean. I tasted blood. I remembered nothing.

My eyes blinked open. I was staring at a crystal clear blue sky that sparkled like a diamond. The sun shone, and I heard the crashing of waves in the distance. Other than that, there was no noise. In fact, it was almost silent. That was odd.

Where was I? I combed through my brain. Yet nothing arose. Who was I? The more important question. But yet again, my memory blanked. I'm no one.. and I'm nowhere. Now, that can't be possible.

I tried to prop myself up on my elbows, but instantly collapsed. A searing pain burned through my body as I fell limp to the ground. A tear ran down my cheek as I burned with pain.

Pain... where did that pain come from? The blood... I instantly thought. The blood. I still tasted it in my mouth. Was I hurt? Now when did that happen?

I tried yet again to sit up. This time, I managed to get on one elbow. I saw sand in all distances. So I'm at a beach? My mind was swirling with questions. Then I melted back down to the sand.

The pain was striking again like a knife in the back. White-hot needles were pricking my arms. The pain was back, worse than before.

I had never felt pain like this. It swept through me like a storm; crashing through my body; longing to escape but finding no way out.

"Help..." I whispered as my eyes watered.

I closed my eyes as if that was going to make the pain melt away. It didn't. But I kept them closed - maybe some kind of memory would come back to me. I concentrated on the sky - the blue sky that had greeted me when I woke up. I felt as if I was floating - the pain was growing softer. Concentrate, I told myself. But after a few minutes of silence, I gave up. This isn't going to work, I thought as I sagged back to Earth. The pain overwhelmed me yet again. But a voice ringed in the back of my ears...

"Sissy? What are you reading?" I heard a shuffle. "None of your business" an older girl grumbled. "Ha!" I heard running feet. "Mom!!" Running again. A few slams echoed from a distant. Then silence. What was that? My eyes popped open. Was that... me? My voice? But which girl... "Sissy!" The voice of the young girl rang through my ears. "Sissy..." I sighed. This was pointless.

I inhaled the salty ocean air as I ran my fingers gently through the sand. The waves crashed in the distance; a gust of wind blew past me, my hair wafting in the breeze. Another blow of pain hit me. No one seemed to be answering my call for help. I looked up at the blue sky; it was as if it was from a storybook.

Looks like a photo... I thought, a picture fading into my mind. A girl... sitting on a beach... the sky without a speck of clouds... light brown hair... the picture vanished. I reached up, as if I could grab it and bring it back to me. My arm fell with a thump. It was gone forever.

I tilted my head to the side, my heart beating slower. My life seemed to slipping away from me. My eyes fluttered; my breath shortened. This is what death is like, I thought. Though I had never imagined my death to be painful and lonely. I gently closed my eyes. I was prepared for whatever there was to come. I imagined a picture-perfect blue sky again - yet this time birds were singing, music was playing, and there was laughter from below. I could make out a little girl.. with soft brown hair as light as the breeze. The same girl from the picture.

"Come on sissy!" she giggled to me. I gasped. It was the same voice. The voice of the little girl.

I reached for her; she reached for me. Our fingertips were about to touch... then she faded. Of course, I thought. It was all just a dream. I was going to be gone, from wherever I was, forever. My fingers gently traced the soft sand beneath me. I wasn't dying content.. but in a sort of happiness. A trance, really. The thought made me smile. The wind rippled past me as I whispered to the sky.

"Goodbye" as I took my last brea-

"Don't worry. I'm here."

----

How was it? Feedback please!! ^^ Luv ya'll! 

~ Chaya