A fiery red head highlighted and almost false, flashed through her mind with a confusion that caused her stomach to tighten and her breathing to falter.
Reversing at extreme speeds, blurring the surroundings inside her mind she went further and further back, scarred for every new scene her mind over turned and pleased knowing they were just living dreams.
The face changed, it grew younger, the eyes changed colour, the skin paler.
A young girl stood beneath a mature and twisted willow tree. Tears fall, and Sara snapped back to herself. A beer bottle, empty by her side. A knock on her front door. Sliding further in to the sofa Sara was lying on, she wished her body to make its self smaller, and for no noise to escape from her. She knew who was at her door, and couldn't face them.
The heavy consistent knocking seemed far away and distant to the brunette, as the heavy beating of her heart and the rise and fall of her lungs grew louder and began to seem deafening to her. Forcing herself up, her eyes clamped shut to help lessen the headache forming, she walked across the room, opened her door to the new comer, sighing she turned around, found the nearest chair and sat back down again.
She didn't speak, or open her eyes, but left the door open waiting for her unwanted company to speak first.
She heard the front door close and soft footsteps heading to the kitchen, water, a click.
Cups clattering.
Tea.
Several minutes passed by and nothing but the sound of boiling water filled the apartment. A mug was placed in front of her, and Sara opened her eyes, took a sip of the welcoming and warming drink and mumbled her thanks to her unwanted guest.
After a hard case several years earlier Sara had cleaned up her apartment, removed the unwanted menus, catalogues, and replaced them with memories. She had removed the empty beer bottles, take away containers and dead plants.
It had made her feel more human, but it had also made her feel more vulnerable when she felt weak. The years had progressed and Sara had grown, growing stronger and more vibrant. She no longer needed to hide, and she had become more sociable. Relationships blossomed and now Sara was married, raising money for charities, organizing events, looking after bees, and had reached the status of Level3 CSI.
Sara Sidle had come a long way in a short time, and everyone around her knew it.
Something inside of the brunette however held her back, confused her, and consumed her. Looking up from her tea Sara looked over to the women sat opposite her, and smiled awkwardly.