I'm sorry for not updating in so long! Thanks for all of your reviews. :) Wow, I was really touched to receive such positive feedback! Veve2491, queenc1, jasiejas1100, -Mellark, Felicity-Blake, gothgirlbites, pianoplayer01, Fuzzypengu, and others, thank you so very much!
Now on with the fourth chapter.

Sitting in the gazebo of a serene garden, I strummed my guitar to familiar tunes while the songbirds sang along. The sky had warm pink and purple hues as early twilight settled in. Coming through the trees, a young, petite brunette girl approached me. She offered me a gracious smile and gazed upon me with her brown eyes. As I played my guitar, she watched, swaying her body to the melody, her eyes never leaving my face. A constant stare that was never uncomfortable.

Consciousness brought me out of my slumber, and I once again faced suffocation. I felt unusually cold and as if something was missing from my presence. Then I remembered Ally, and how she had spent some time conversing with me, and how we had exchanged words about ourselves. The last thing I remembered before I fell into a peaceful sleep was our talk of dreams. She had seemed so absorbed in every word I spoke of the topic, and I was strangely comfortable with sharing with her my perspective and experience regarding my dream-life.

Now, I was unsure what time of day it was, but the one thing I knew was that Ally was no longer present. I had not meant to doze off in the midst of talking, however sleep snuck upon me. I mentally scolded myself for falling asleep. Then, I remembered that Ally was scheduled to stay until nighttime, and I knew definitely that night was yet to arrive.

I heard someone calling my name suddenly. It was Grandpa Dawson. "Austin! It's me. Thank you, Marianne," he thanked the nurse for wheeling him over. "Is Ally here?"

"No. I guess, I dozed off on her, and she left," I hesitantly replied. I wondered if she had left the residence early instead of staying until night like her original plan.

"You rascal," he chuckled. "So... how was it?"

I was puzzled. "How was what?"

"Don't act like you don't know. You're time with my granddaughter!" Grandpa Dawson let out an obscure snicker, one he was probably hoping I wouldn't hear.

"Good. She seemed nice... But, did she leave already?" I decided to ask him.

"Well, I came here expecting her to be with you. If she had left, she would have let me know." Grandpa Dawson's tone seemed unsettled, and I knew he was beginning to worry. I silently cursed myself, feeling responsible.

I tried to reassure him, "Hey, don't worry, Grandpa. Maybe she's in the bathroom, or something? Or she just went home and forgot to tell you?"

"No, no, she most certainly wouldn't leave without telling me. Boy, when did you doze off?"

"I'm not sure. It's a bit hard to keep track of time... without my sight," I replied, knowing he would understand.

"Well, it's five o'clock now, as Marianne just informed me. I'm going to give Ally's cell phone a call." He buzzed his buzzer and a nurse arrived promptly. After requesting her to punch in the numbers of Ally's phone number on the telephone, Grandpa Dawson thanked the nurse and we waited in silence for Ally to pick up the phone.

"Ally! Dear! Where are you?" I heard Grandpa Dawson suddenly snap after a few moments of silence. Another pause, and then he spoke again, "What? You got a call from who?" He sounded flustered and unlike himself. "Ally, you know I don't want you to associate with them." His tone became gravely serious. "I don't want to hear any excuses. Get out of there right now! And come back here within 20 minutes!" Grandpa Dawson croaked angrily and hung up the phone.

He was breathing heavily, and perplexed, I asked, "What was that about, Grandpa Dawson?"

He sighed momentarily and responded quietly, "Just some problems back home... Ally will be on her way soon."

I grunted in response and decided not to question the old man any further. He seemed to be at unease, and I did not wish to aggravate him. We sat there noiselessness for the next twenty minutes, as Grandpa Dawson waited for Ally to return from unknown circumstances.

When Ally returned, she and Grandpa Dawson excused themselves and ventured to his room, where they stayed for the next couple hours. It was not until eleven o'clock at night that Ally left. She passed me as she was on her way and muttered a troubled goodbye. I was left to speculate what had went wrong after Ally left and why Grandpa Dawson had sounded so upset. I knew it was not my right to meddle in their affairs, but with them being the only people that I associated with at a closer range, I was prone to be curious.

I had settled in my room, but tonight, I had difficulty falling asleep. Constant questions and suspicions kept arising in my head about Grandpa Dawson and Ally. I tried desperately not to think about it, however the tones in their voices earlier were so troubled, it was difficult not to wonder what had happened.

When sleep finally overcame me, it was unnerving.

I saw the same brunette from my afternoon dream. This time, she was sobbing. Atrocious, heart-wrenching howls. The cacophony of her hysterical crying seemed interminable. I was observing her, and my hand reached for her, but she shrieked and turned away, still wailing. Her cries dragged on, the dream seeming never-ending.

I gasped as I awoke. The sounds still echoed in my ears. What was that? Who was the brunette that had appeared in my dreams not once, but twice? I shook my head in confusion. There was definitely something wrong with the night's dream. I normally would not dream about something so eerie, besides the crash four years ago. Something had gone wrong in the balance of my life, I was sure, but for now its identity was uncertain.

There you go, Chapter Four! Ahhh. I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this. And I'm sorry this is what I come up with after not updating for a bit. -_- Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I would truly appreciate your REVIEWS. 3