Chapter Two- Nightmares and Memories
"Jack! Jack! Come back here!"
A young woman with long, flowing brown hair was running to him, her eyes rimmed with red. Her trembling hands grabbed his shoulders and she shook him fiercely. "You don't know what you're doing," she breathed. "You aren't thinking."
Her words had no affect on his decision as he stood there. He could feel his eyes narrow and he heard his voice speak firmly. "Samantha, I've made up my mind. I'm tired of living here! I'm sick of seeing nothing but buildings and skyscrapers on all sides of me. I want fresh air."
"Are you... tired of me, too?" she asked softly, her large, green eyes longing for an answer.
Jack's anger melted, and he smiled warmly. "Of course not, love. You can move to the small town with me, if you like. I've already told you again and again."
She looked defiant. "Jack, I've already told you my thoughts." She spoke slowly, trying to get through to him. "I don't want to move to some crummy town where there's nothing to do. If you leave the city, you leave me as well."
Jack felt like falling where he stood. "Samantha..." he whispered.
She crossed her arms. "Choose." She stood determinedly in the middle of her small apartment. Her eyes bore through his as she waited for a response.
After a few seconds of silence, Jack sighed. "I'm sorry," he said softly, "I want to do this for myself, and if you're not willing to come with me, then you leave me no choice." He slowly began walking towards the door. Noticing that he was seriously leaving, she called to him, her voice desperate. He continued walking, and her voice became shrill, and she was now screaming. Her words cut through his head like a knife. "You don't care about anyone but yourself! Go have a wonderful time in your Hell hole of a town!"
The words echoed in his mind. He had to get away from that pained, angry voice. He ran down the street, his mind numb and his eyes blind.
Jack jumped up with his heart racing. Sweat was all over his forehead, and his body heaved with each breath. He looked around himself. He was in his small bed. He was ok. The stillness of the morning calmed him quickly, its sweet voice telling him that it was just a dream.
"Yeah, but the dream was something that's happened before," he said aloud. Who exactly was he talking to? Jack rubbed his eyes and placed his feet onto the cold floor. His feet padded on the wood as he went into the kitchen for some well-needed coffee.
He heard yipping at his heels, and he looked down to see his dog jumping excitedly.
"What's the matter, boy?" He knelt down to see what the little animal wanted. After a few seconds of watching the little puppy dance, Jack decided that it needed to be let outside.
The warm sun greeted Jack as he opened the door. Squinting, Jack could see from the sun's position in the sky that he had slept in. Shoot. He walked outside and with a deep breath, the clean, spring air filled his lungs. That was one thing that he loved about being here. He had known before moving that it would be his favorite thing about the country. The fresh air.
He tried to keep his mind off of his nightmare and slowly walked to his large barn. Another day, another set of chores.