It was two in the morning, and again, Janie was alone. Alone and in pain.

Janie was used to hurting after her father was done with her. What she couldn't get used to was feeling absolutely stupid every time. Stupid that she didn't see it coming. Her father had been following her. That was how he knew she'd seen John and waved at him that morning. That was why he'd been home when she got home today instead of gone like he usually was. He was planning to confront her about it anyway, and John showing up and talking to her had just given him more incentive.

Janie had finally stopped crying and was just about to drift off to sleep when she felt it. Someone was sitting on her bed, rubbing a hand up and down her back. She felt herself tense up, thinking it was her father, then realized that he wouldn't care about being gentle with her. Only one other person had ever sat on her bed like that before.

"Shh. Mommy's here, baby."

Janie turned and her mouth dropped. There, in full and living color, was her mother. Sabrina knelt down to the floor and in front of Janie, wiping away the tears that fell down.

"Mommy?" Janie whispered. Even in shock, she was terrified of her father hearing her.

Sabrina smiled. "Hi, baby. I've missed you."

"Are you really here?"

"I am. I came to help you."

"I can't talk to you."

"What? Why?"

"Daddy'll hear me."

"Don't worry about that. Your daddy can't hear us." Sabrina promised. "You can say anything you want."

"How do you know?"

"Mommy knows everything." Sabrina said.

Janie smiled. "You always said that."

"I always meant it too." Sabrina said. "I'm sorry you're hurting, honey."

Janie felt her eyes fill up with tears again. "He hates me, Mommy."

"I wish I could tell you that wasn't true. But it's not."

When Janie let out a choked sob, Sabrina kissed Janie's hand and put one finger on the bridge of Janie's nose. After a few seconds, Janie found herself smiling.

"That's what I like to see. My baby girl happy."

"I haven't felt happy in a long time."

"I know. Listen to me, baby. I need you to listen to me and do exactly what I tell you. Okay? If you do, I promise you you'll be okay."

"What do you want me to do?" Janie asked.

"When you get up in the morning, act just like it's a school day."

"But it's not and if daddy finds out, he'll…"

"I know what your daddy will do. And he will find out, honey. But you need to listen to me and do what I say. If you do, then by this time tomorrow, you'll be away from your father."

Could it be true? Could Janie really leave her father and be safe? Was there really anyone in the world that would love her the way her father was supposed to?

"Where am I gonna go?"

"I can't tell you that. I just need you to trust me. Will you do that, Janie?"

After a long pause, Janie nodded.

"Okay. Good girl. Now, like I said, when you get up in the morning, act like it's a school day. Make your father's breakfast and eat some for yourself. Take your backpack and leave just like always. But go down to the diner. Sit in the booth you and me used to sit in when I took you for breakfast. Do you remember?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Sit there and wait. Wait for the man that came to visit you and your father earlier."

"John?"

"Yes. When he gets there, talk to him. Tell him you've seen me and tell him everything."

Janie's heart froze and she shook her head. "No. I can't tell him all that."

"Janie, listen to me. Do what I'm telling you to do, okay? You have to do exactly like I'm telling you."

"I can't tell him, Mommy. I can't tell anybody…"

"Baby, I already know. I know about all of it."

Janie broke down crying again. There were parts of her relationship with her father that even she refused to acknowledge. But if her mother knew, surely that meant that this was all a dream, and there was no way Janie was getting out of this. Ever.

"You hate me too, don't you?"

"Janie Elizabeth, listen to me and listen to me good. You are my baby girl. You are beautiful, you are smart, you are loving, and you deserve the world. You do not deserve anyone hurting you like this ever. I do not hate you. I don't have it in me to hate you. I love you more than anything else on this entire earth. That cannot and never will change. Do you understand me?"

Janie nodded. "I love you too, Mommy."

"I've heard you. All those nights you stayed up crying for me, I did hear you. I'm sorry it took so long for me to reach you and do something about it, but I'm here now. And I need you to trust me and just do what I'm asking tomorrow. Okay? Get up in the morning and go to the café. Talk to John. I can't say how he'll do it, because I don't really know myself, but he will get you out of here and safe again. Promise me you'll do it."

"I promise."

Sabrina smiled again. "That's my good girl."

"Do you have to go?"

"I can't stay here all night, sweetie."

"Can you hold me till I fall asleep?"

"That I can do."

"Mommy? Are you the one that sends the dreams?" Janie asked. "The ones I have when I'm asleep after school?"

"Yep. You like them?"

"I love them."

"And I love you. Now go to sleep, baby bunny. You want me to sing to you?"

"Yes, please."

Janie fell asleep to her mother's gentle, soothing voice, and all the pain and heartache she'd felt earlier seemed to subside. When her alarm clock rang four hours later, she was surprised to find herself refreshed and ready for the day. She remembered the instructions from the night before, and decided she really didn't have much to lose by following them. She made her breakfast, but was so nervous she didn't eat it. She made breakfast for her father, and started out the door with her backpack in her hand when she got an idea. Her hand on the doorknob to leave, Janie turned back to the living room, where her father was sitting in his recliner with a beer already in his hand.

"Daddy?"

Leon, annoyed with the interruption, snapped, "What?"

Janie gathered her courage by taking a deep breath and gripping the doorknob tightly. She put her backpack down and walked over to her father and did something she hadn't done in years. She kissed his cheek and gave him a hug.

"I love you."

Janie waited for the rage attack to start. The order to leave the house and get to school 'before I whip you so hard you never stop feeling it', as he'd threatened her the morning before. The slap to the face for wasting time. Anything to show Janie that she was nothing to him, confirming for her what her mother had already confirmed the night before.

None of that came. Janie felt her father hesitate, something he never did when it came to her. She felt his hand come up halfway to her back, and for a moment, she was afraid he would pull her hair and hurt her again right there. But all he did instead was tentatively pat her back.

"Go on, get to school."

Janie left the house for the diner wondering if she should abandon the plan. Walk back to her house and beg her father's forgiveness for not telling him school was out for the day. Take whatever punishment he doled out on her, then do what she was supposed to do in the first place. She was confused. While she did want to get away from Leon, she felt a strange guilt about leaving him alone. He was the only parent she had. Besides, her mother was dead. The dream the night before had been just that. A dream. It couldn't be real, which meant that everything her mother had to say to her couldn't be real either.

Right?

Janie made up her mind before going into the diner. She would stay like she'd planned, and she would talk to John about her mother's ghost, but she wouldn't tell him anything about her father. He was a stranger and didn't need to know anyway. He won't even care about that, Janie thought.

A few hours later, after the owner of the diner had asked Janie over and over if she was sure she didn't want anything to eat or drink, John walked in. He noticed her in the corner by herself and walked over. Janie felt butterflies in her stomach, and tried hard not to squirm. She was still in pain from her father's punishment the night before.

"Hey there. Mind if I join you?"