h3>Chapter 3: Making a New Life **NOTE:I skip a period of time here because Karen and Jack's relationship at this point is not important!**

It had been a few months since Karen and I had started dating. We were very serious, and spent most of our free time together. Rick had gotten over the fact he had no chance with Karen, and he now supported our relationship. It was the day I was ready...
"Karen...can we talk?" I asked quietly, as I walked into her house.
"Sure!" smiled Karen, "What's with the serious face?"
"This...is a serious matter." I responded.
The smile on Karen's face dropped.
"What's wrong?" she asked in a hushed voice.
I got down on one knee. "Karen, will you marry me?"

Tears flowed down her cheeks like a silent river. She grasped my hand tightly, and leaned down to kiss me. She took the ring out of the box I had been holding towards her, and glently placed it on her finger. I knew her answer obviously, and I stood up and held her in my arms. She was shaking, but as I held her she slowly stopped. I rubbed her back and played with her soft, silky hair in my hands.
"Oh Jack, I love you." she said.
"I love you too, Karen." I replied.

We set the wedding for the next Sunday, and the week rolled by. We had so many things to keep us occupied, we had no time to be nervous. We had to send out invitations, make arrangements about the afterparty, buy dresses and things, it was so stressful

Soon, however, it was Sunday. I ran to the church and walked up to my place where I was to stand. I waited and finally the music started. I watched as Jeff walked Karen down the aisle. May was our flowergirl, and she walked a few feet ahead of the procession. I watched my bride-to-be walk along, she was so beautiful in her wedding dress.

Before I knew it, she was standing next to me. We listened to the priest, then it came time...
"Do you, Jack, take Karen to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to serve, in sickness and in health?"
"I do.." I stuttered.
"And do you, Karen, take Jack to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to serve, in sickness and in health?"
"I do," beamed Karen.
"I now pronounce you, man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

We kissed, then we walked down the aisle. We entered the Inn and had our party. We were so happy and loved each other so much. We left before the party was over and went to my house. We had a nice dinner that I cooked, then we fell asleep.

The next morning was bright and sunny. I woke up next to Karen, and I got up to dress. I did my chores, and by the time I was finished, Karen was up and dressed. She strolled out and took a deep breath.
"I love the smell of farms! Really feels like your in the nature, ya know?" she said.
"Yeah, it's beautiful." I said, staring at her.
She blushed, knowing I was talking about her, and ran over to kiss me.
"You know, when you proposed to me, I thought you were going to dump me!" she giggled.
"Really? I'm sorry!" I said.
"It's ok! Don't worry about it, I'm glad, it made it even more of a suprise." she smiled.
"Do you want to go walk on the beach?" I asked.
"Yes, I'd love that!"

We walked to the beach and walked just out of the reach of the waves. We didn't talk, just walked together, occasionally looking at each other. I knew that I had found true love, but yet, something kept coming up in my mind. It was the dream... I had tried to forget it, but I couldn't. I hadn't thought about it for a few weeks, but now it seemed stronger than ever. I told Karen that I didn't feel well, and she suggested I go to the Clinic. I told her it was just a headache, and we started to walk home.

My sleep that night was restless. I had the same dream, except now it was more painful, more vivid. Now, instead of Karen ignoring me, she was screaming, crying for my help. Her face writhed with pain, and she struggled to break free of the black cloud. I couldn't help her. There was now a shiny silvery piece of something on a hill. I was climbing to get it, I needed it, for what was unknown. Every time I got close to it, within my grasp, I would fall, or be pulled away...
"KAREN!" I yelled, waking up.
"Jack, what is it? What's wrong?" said Karen, waking up with a startle from my shout.
"Y-You were...stuck...I couldn't, help you." I struggled to tell her.
"Jack," said Karen, rubbing my back, "Please don't let this get to you! It's just a bad dream, I'm here, I'm ok. I'm always right here next to you."
She held my hand, and eventually I fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up. We went through our routine of farm work, then went for a walk in the woods. As I walked past a small grove of trees, I had a feeling of dej— vu, like I had been there before. I shook it off and continued to hold Karen's hand. She was safe...