Sun shining brightly, Chihiro stood in the wide, open field. Grass began to sway as a cool wind blew through. To anyone else, it would have been a breathtaking scene. But, to the girl standing hand in hand with her dragon spirit, it was one of the most painful things she'd ever experienced.

Once again, Chihiro was about to go through the most painful goodbye of her life.

Sensing her saddened mood, Haku gave her hand a slight squeeze as before speaking.

"You'll be fine, just go back the way you came," he said with a smile, but not even he could hide the sad glint in his eyes.

His smile made her heart hurt even more. Despite his reassurance, Chihiro couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right. What about Haku? What would happen when he returned to the bathhouse? Gaining up the courage, she asked.

"But what about you, what will you do?"

Haku smiled warmly. "Don't worry. I'm going to go back and have a talk with Yubaba. I'm finally going to quit being her apprentice."

Seeing her worried expression, he calmly added, "I'll be fine, I got my name back." There was a slight pause. Haku looked like he had more to say, but wasn't sure whether he should say it.

"You saved me, Chihiro."

Her heart instantly warmed at hearing those words, but that sinking feeling still hadn't gone away. Chihiro had finally figured out why she felt so nervous.

"Haku," She barely hid the quiver in her voice, "Will we ever see each other again?"

He responded, speaking softly. "I know we will." He had lied to the girl. Haku knew that the chances of meeting again would be slim, but even if there were the smallest chance, he would try.

"Promise?" Haku noticed the way her eyes sparkled with hope at his reassurance, sending a wave of guilt through him.

"Promise. Now run, and don't look back."

Believing his words, Chihiro let go of his hands and ran down the field, her purple hair-tie sparkling in the sun.

As she reached the stream that signified she was close to the entrance, everything around her faded to black.

Chihiro sat up in her bed in a cold sweat.

Realizing it was all a dream; she wiped her forehead and took a few deep breaths to collect her thoughts.

Chihiro wished she could go back to her dream and tell her younger self to look back. It had been the one thing Haku told her not to do. Nevertheless, she had always been curious.

That's all over now, she thought to herself. It's time to move on.

She glanced at her alarm clock and groaned. She was late. Very late.

As quickly as she could, she rolled out of bed, slid on her uniform, and tied her hair up with her now-iconic sparkly purple hair tie.

It had been 6 years now since she had received that hair band from Zeniba. The old witch had told her to keep it with her always, that it was made from the true love of her friends, and that it would protect her. Sadly, no one told her that it would be the one thing she had left to remind her of where she knew she belonged; the Spirit World.

Part of her knew 6 years ago that she wanted to stay. She knew this, but she also knew that she had an entire life and family in the human world. Chihiro made that choice 6 years ago not thinking about her happiness, but those around her.

After looping her hair as tightly as she could, she ran out of the room and down the stairs; surprising her parents. Mr. Ogino, reading the newspaper on the couch, gave a low chuckle to his wife in the kitchen.

"That daughter of ours," he said, "always oversleeping."

The two began to laugh when Mrs. Ogino remembered something, and called out to her daughter.

"Honey? Where are you going, you don't have school today!"

Already a house down from hers, Chihiro stumbled mid-step; confused.

Today IS Monday, isn't it? Then it dawned on her. She mentally chastised herself for forgetting something so important.

You idiot, today's the first day of summer.

Now that it was summer, she only had a few weeks left before leaving this city, forever. Her father had gotten word from his boss that they would have to relocate to Okinawa. The Oginos all seemed very enthusiastic and excited for this 'adventure' awaiting them, and she honestly would have been too, if moving hadn't meant she would be further away from the Spirit World entrance.

Further away from Hak—

She stopped mid-thought. Her heart sunk at the image of Haku coming back for her and finding that she had left him. Would he think that she had forgotten about him? The thought was almost too much for Chihiro to comprehend. Not one day had passed in the last 6 years that she had not wished he would come and see her.

But what if he never comes back for me?

It had been so long since they had said goodbye. Maybe he had forgotten all about her and moved on with his life? Chihiro didn't know which scenario was more painful, him coming to see her but finding her gone, or him forgetting about her altogether.

Had it really been 6 years? She honestly didn't feel any different. Cliché as it sounded, it truly felt as if it had only been a few days since she had last seen the Spirit World. Chihiro could remember every detail of the place, vividly.

I wonder what his life is like now. He's probably surrounded with people constantly, never short of a friend to talk to.

She compared that to what her life was like now. Lonely, boring, and sad. Haku truly was the best friend she'd never had, and she had now had to live without that friend for years.

You moron, she reprimanded, he only saw you as some pitiful girl he helped out. There've probably been a dozen better people to be friends with since you. Why can't you just move on?

Chihiro thought of these things as she sulked into the house, slumping into a chair in the living room. She also thought about the dream she had had the night before.

For years, she had the same dream, over and over again. She woke up for the first week thinking it would go away with time. But, after about a month, it slowly took its toll on her. It became the only thing she could focus on. Every night, she'd wake up, rethinking her choice to stay with her family. In school, she would scribble down sketches of the images she saw in her dreams, making her a natural fit for the art club, but it irked her nonetheless. Had she done the right thing in leaving?

Where would her life have been if she had chosen differently? At that point Chihiro wondered this daily and continued to do so for years, but always came to the same conclusion, She'd definitely be happier than she was now, alone in a school full of people and detached from her family at home, not belonging anywhere.

No, I definitely belong somewhere… just not here.

Enough was enough. Chihiro sat up in her chair, a new resolve taking over her mind. She would march up to her room, lay in her bed and go to sleep. When she began her dream, she swore, she would choose the other path.

As she laid her head down, she thought of one thing only, over and over in her head, like a mantra.

Look back, Chihiro, look back.