Chapter Two "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger"

That night, Ami set the alarm clock to 5 A.M. "Sorry, Yumi, but I will have to wake you up for your medicine." But Yumi did not hear. She fell asleep faster than Ami could notice. She looked so calm when she was asleep. Ami closed her eyes and remembered the day when she first met Yumi, a girl so different than all the other people; one who was clearly a good shoulder to cry on; one who was a true friend; one who was special. She was everything she wanted in a sister; therefore she truly loved her just like one. She turned off the lights and fell asleep.

Ami was sleeping soundly. She was suddenly awakened by strange noises. She looked around through the dark, with half-closed eyes: it was Yumi. She was saying something unclear in her sleep. "Yumi? Are you ok?" she whispered. "No…no…help…I can't see…HELP! AMI! WHERE ARE YOU? AMI!" "YUMI, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!" Ami shouted shaking the girl who instantly woke up. Yumi started crying holding her friend tightly. "It's alright, Yumi, you were just dreaming, it was just a nightmare, it's all over" Ami said trying to calm her down, although she was shocked by Yumi's tears. "Oh Ami, it was horrible. I couldn't wake up" the purple-haired girl said through tears. "There, there, Yumi, it's over; whatever it was, it wasn't real" her friend softly said. Yumi finally calmed down, her heartbeats starting to slow down to their normal rhythm. Her face was still sweaty and her eyes were still red from crying though. "What was it, Yumi, what did you dream about?" Ami whispered. "I'm so glad it's over. I don't remember much. I can clearly picture you saying that you want to go home; yes, that's right, you begged me to take you home; and then…something happened…because you were gone, I couldn't find you. So I went searching for you. I went searching through a dark forest. I was terrified. And there was something, someone. He was making it, the fear. I don't really know what it was, but it was always behind me. And I didn't know which way to go. I was yelling out for you. I just had to see your face…and then…I guess that's when you woke me up. Thanks." "It's alright. Dreams don't mean a thing. Usually when I have a bad dream, I wake up and concentrate on the things surrounding me in my room; that's how I can clearly make a difference between dream and reality." "You don't understand, Ami, I couldn't wake up, even though I could figure out it was a dream. I just knew that as soon as I woke up, that thing would disappear. Yet, I just had to stay in this nightmare. I thought that if that thing disappeared forever so would you. I just had to find you so I could wake up. I hope to God I never feel that way outside of a dream." "But you're awake now and I'm right here; see? There's nothing to worry about. As I said, there's a clear line between dream and reality, you just have to remember that. Now, let's try to get some sleep before…" but the alarm sounded just as Ami was finishing her sentence. "5 o'clock, Yumi; it's time for your medication." Yumi received a spoonful of disgusting liquid that was supposed to cure her and fell back asleep. The cherry-eyed girl however did not try to go back to sleep immediately, as she wanted to acknowledge what she just witnessed. She looked extremely confused as this was the first time she saw her friend cry in fear. She captured her eyes just in the moment that she woke up from the nightmare. And in them she saw nothing but pure and hopeless fear. It was incredible seeing her now, sleeping so calmly as if nothing had happened. "Just what was that all about? I guess this is what happens when you watch too much TV. But you can always wake up from a nightmare, no matter how scary; why couldn't she?" Ami was pretty confused at this point, but finally agreed that a nightmare is not real. It's just one of those things that have to happen from time to time. She softly laid her head on the pillow and quickly went back to sleep.

That morning, when Ami woke up, Yumi was still sleeping. This was natural, as Ami always woke up before her friend did. Every time, exactly after the morning's first gaze of sunlight, she would just jump out of bed, getting ready for the new day. Unlike her, Yumi was a heavy sleeper; she always liked to take some large amount of time before getting up; also she never liked the sun shining in her face and ruining her dreams, therefore she was always sleeping with the curtains closed. Ami respected this, and closed them before going to bed. Now that she was wide awake, she did not open them, as not to disturb her sleeping friend. Instead, she carefully walked out of the room, washed her face, brushed her teeth and took her morning shower. She then started preparing breakfast. Since she was sick, Yumi never ate breakfast and Ami was beginning to worry about this: "What if the lack of food makes her worse? I guess she won't mind a bowl of cereal." So, she prepared it especially for her, after which she went back in her room. Yumi wasn't up yet, but her eyes were half opened. "Good morning, Yumi! How are you feeling today?" Ami asked opening the curtains to finally let some sunlight in the room. Yumi instantly covered her face with the blanket. "Don't do that, Ami" she said with a sleepy voice, "I want to sleep some more." "But I made you breakfast, Yumi" Ami said while gently removing the blanket of her face and kissing her forehead to see if she still had the fever. "You seem better now. I think your fever faded a bit." "Yeah, I really slept well last night. Surprisingly well." "Maybe after your nightmare, you were more relaxed than before, Yumi." "What nightmare? What are you talking about?" "What do you mean? You were screaming and I woke you up. I calmed you down and then I gave you your medicine. Don't you remember? You cried." "I cried? I don't think so. Are you sure YOU weren't dreaming?" "Come on, Yumi, you must remember… you were running through the dark forest…and that thing…and I disappeared… and that thing was always behind you…does any of this ring the bell?" "Nope! I just remember taking the medicine and then going back to sleep."

"Could I have dreamt it all?" Ami thought as she left the room to bring Yumi's cereal. When she arrived back in the kitchen, she took a tray and placed the bowl on it. Just as she was ready to serve her friend breakfast in bed, she saw Yumi at the kitchen door. "YUMI! You got out of bed!" "I guess so; looks like I'm healing faster than I thought." Ami wondered if there was a connection about last night's nightmare and this. Anyway, Yumi was looking better that she had been in days. She still had a runny nose though