Chapter 1: The First Dream

June 17th, 2015

Sarah's house

I was on the edge of a cliff, the sea spread out before me, not a single cloud in the sky – a sky that was as dark as dusk and filled with shimmering stars, though it was as bright as an early summer afternoon. I heard the deafening roar of the ocean, the blaring cries of the seagulls, the quiet whispers of the wind.

I was wearing a simple white dress that billowed out behind me. I took a deep breath, breathing in the salty sea air that blew the mass of golden blond curls away from my face. Oh, how I loved the scent of the sea!

There was a sudden rustle in the trees behind me. I turned, startled - and slipped. What happened next seemed to move in slow motion. Before me I saw a woman, perhaps in her mid-twenties, emerging from the trees. The first thing I noticed about her was her eyes - they were a radiant aqua color, unlike anything I've ever seen. They widened as I began to fall. The second thing I noticed about her was her hair - the color of flames, it danced as she moved fluidly to grab hold of my arm. The third thing I noticed about her was that she was strong - she caught me with ease and with seemingly little effort pulled me back to the safety of solid ground, only a few feet farther inland than I had been a mere moment before.

"I am so sorry," she said as she helped me steady myself, "I didn't know that anyone would be here. Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I nodded, slightly dazed as my brain finished processing what had happened. "Yeah, I'm ok… I think. Who…?"

I turned to look at her, then trailed off as I noticed her attire. She was wearing an elegant white dress that trailed along behind her, silver cufflets with Celtic-like designs etched into them, and a silver crown with amethyst accents nestled in her fiery curls.

"Do I know you?" she asked suddenly. If she noticed the strange look I was giving her, she didn't show it.

"I…" I said, taken aback. "Um… No, I don't think so. Why?"

"Oh." she said, sounding… confused? Disappointed? "I don't know," she shrugged, "I just thought I recognized you from somewhere. What did you say your name was again?"

"I didn't…" I muttered, then brushed it aside. "Um, Maria Rose." I said in a normal tone. "My name is Maria Rose. Who're you?"

"Maria Rose…" she repeated, furrowing her brows and ignoring my question. "I swear I know that name… Are you sure we've never met?'

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Um," I added as she began studying me profusely, "you didn't answer my-"

"I'm sure that I've seen you before, somewhere." she murmured, completely disregarding what I was saying.

"Weren't you one of those girls from a couple of months ago who…?" she trailed off, then crossed her arms in thought. "But no, there's something else…"

"What d'you mean, 'one of th'-?" I started, but then stopped short. Something had changed. For a second there, the entire scenery flickered from trees and stars to something blue and fluffy, from night-yet-light to morning sun. Then it's gone, and everything is normal.

The woman seemed to snap out of her thoughts just then.

"Ah," she said after a second. "I see."

"What?" I asked, confused. "What d'you mean by that?"

She simply shook her head. "I can't tell you now, Maria Rose. You're waking up."

"Waking up?" I repeated. "What-?"

Everything changed again, for longer this time.

"H-hang on," I started, "who-?"

I opened my eyes. Sunlight streamed through my curtains, covering my room in a soft blanket of blue and purple light. I could hear the leaves rustling faintly outside and the birds chirping happily among them. For a moment I just lay there, trying to recall what had happened in my dream, but it was just out of reach of my consciousness. Something about red hair and the sea...?

I glanced groggily at my clock. It was only 7:43.

Guess I woke up early, then. I thought. Well, I might as well get up now, or else I'll be here all day.

I sat up and stretched. Then I grabbed my headphones and my phone from my nightstand, turned on some Fall Out Boy, and headed downstairs for some breakfast.

When I got to the kitchen, I saw a note on the counter. I picked it up and read it.

Gone to the office. I'll be back around 10. Be good. -Mom
P.S.- Sarah, don't even think about leaving this house. You're still grounded from last week. Miro, be a dear and watch her please? Thanks.

Sure thing, Ms. Brown. I thought, nodding to myself. Then I made myself some breakfast.

Sarah came downstairs about 10 minutes later, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her vibrant red hair a tangled mess. As her topaz-brown eyes scanned the room, she looked slightly surprised to see me sitting at the table with a half-finished bowl of cereal.

"Well you're up early," she said, raising an eyebrow.

I took a bite of my cereal and shrugged. My headphones sat on the table next to my bowl, currently unused.

*Couldn't sleep, I guess.* I told her in sign language.

She shrugged and walked toward the kitchen.

*Your mom's out, by the way.* I continued once she could see me again. *At the office. She'll be back around 10 and you can't leave the house. I'm watching you.*

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a child, Miro. We're practically the same age!" She reached for the cereal box.

*Yeah, but your mom said.* I pointed at the note on the counter. She picked it up, sighed, and then read the note. Then she rolled her eyes again.

"Fine." she grumbled. She closed the cabinet after getting the box of cereal and got a bowl from the dishwasher, then muttered, "What a great way to start my summer - grounded."

*Drama queen.* I signed, rolling my eyes.

"I saw that." she snapped, sitting across from me at the table. I raised my arms in surrender.

*Well, someone's cranky.*

"Yeah, probably because I'm grounded."

*And that your own fault. You probably shouldn't have snuck out last week for that Drake guy.*

"Dylan," she corrected stiffly, automatically. "His name was Dylan."

*Right, him. It's your own fault for sneaking out to see him and then getting caught.*

She sighed. "Well, it wasn't worth it. He was a jerk and kind of annoying. Always talked about Halo or whatever." She took a sad bite of her cereal.

*You really liked him, huh?* I signed after a moment of quiet.

"So what if I did?" she snapped. "It doesn't matter now. He was a jerk. I'm over it."

She and Dylan had been going out for about two weeks before last week. After she had snuck out to see him and gotten grounded, he called her the next day and broke up with her. And honestly? I'm glad he's gone. I never liked him. He was too stuck up in my opinion. Sarah deserves better than him. Like she said, he was a jerk. He probably knew it, too - which made him even more of a jerk.

"So what're we gonna do today?" she asked, changing the subject.

*I don't know about you, but I'm gonna go to the library and get some books. Well, once your mom gets back, at least. Until then, I'll probably just draw or something.*

"Then what am I gonna do?"

I shrugged. *You gotta figure that out for yourself, Sar - it ain't my problem.*

"Jerk." she said, rolling her eyes and shoving my arm playfully.

*Well you're welcome to join me, Brown.*

She wrinkled her nose. "No thanks. I'd rather be bored all day."

I shrugged. *Suit yourself.*

I stood up and took my empty bowl to the sink. When I got back to the table, Sarah had this kind of sad, faraway look in her eyes. Almost like... longing, or... sorrow.

"Hey Miro?" She asked quietly. "Do you think I'll ever find someone? You know, who actually loves me?"

I sat down next to her. She turned to look at me with those sad topaz eyes.

*Of course I do. You're a great person, Sarah. Any guy would be lucky to have you. You just... haven't found him yet. But you will. Everyone does.* I smiled at her. *You'll see.*

She gave me a small, hopeful smile back. "Thanks, Miro."

*Anytime.* I signed.

4