Ch.1

I was at work minding my own business. I was trying so hard to not think about what happened. I still wasn't entirely sure if it was all real. Part of me wanted it to be, the other part though, wanted it to be a terrible nightmare. The only thing that kept my mind on it being real was the ring.

I hadn't taken it off. I didn't want to. I don't know why. All looking at that ring did was bring back the pain of my broken heart. It also brought back the amazing memories, too.

I was working in the fiction section today. I didn't want to see any of the history books just yet. Ms. Leslie wasn't there, so I didn't have to worry about explaining my sudden change in behavior. At least not to her. My best friend, in my time on the other hand, was a different story. She took over my duty of the non-fiction section today. Her name was, oddly enough, Emily.

It kind of freaked me out some when I first saw her that morning. I could vaguely remember a conversation between Evelyn and me about babies. She had said that if she had a little girl she was going to name her Emily. I knew, though, there was no way my friend Emily could be their daughter. It was impossible.

It was another slow day in the book store. It always was. I could never understand why Ms. Leslie kept this place open. Probably because she got all her profit off of me.

I went to the front desk and relaxed a little. My work load, for now, was done. At least the stocking part. I wanted to talk to my friend. I needed to keep my mind off things. It was short lived, though.

Emily came walking up to the counter. All day, I kept trying to hide the rock on my finger. This time, I had forgotten.

"Alyssa. What's going on with you? You're not acting like yourself. Usually you jump all over the non-fiction section, and usually you are more talkative."

I just shrugged. I still didn't think about the ring on my finger. I didn't know what to tell her.

"I don't know, Em."

It felt weird to say that. I know I called her that all the time, but I kept wanting to say Ev.

"I just didn't sleep well, that's all"

She nodded and went to turn away. She always knew when I really didn't want to be bothered. That's when I saw the look of shock on her face.

"What in the hell is that?"

She pointed at my left hand. I immediately went to hide, but I knew it was too late.

"You didn't tell me you were seeing someone. Especially so serious. What gives Ally?"

I cringed. I hated that nick name. I only tolerated it because Emily was really the only person I had in my life.

"I...I'm not seeing anyone. I just found it amongst my parents' things and really liked it. That's all."

It was a lie. A big one. I didn't want to hide anything from her, but what could I tell her? That I time traveled in my sleep, I was gone for a year, and the man I fell in love with had died? Then I somehow, miraculously, showed back up on my couch, the next day after I had fallen asleep? No, I couldn't. Who would believe that? I barely believed it. The only thing that proved it was all true was that damn ring. The ring that brought back all the hurt and the love I felt. The love I would never know again.

She looked at me with complete disbelief in her eyes. She knew I was lying. I mean, we grew up together. She's seen me lie so many times.

"Come on, Alyssa. That's not true. So, who's the lucky guy?"

She started gushing. She wanted to know everything. I didn't know what in the hell to tell her. I was scared that if I did tell her the truth that she would stick me in a mental asylum. Although, I told Evelyn, Rafe, and Danny everything, and they didn't think I was crazy at all. I barely knew any of them when I told them. Maybe, Emily will react just as they had. With all luck.

"Look, if you really want to know the whole truth, come home with me after work, and I'll tell you."

She stood with her mouth agape. Like I had grown three heads. Luckily I was saved by the bell on the door, and immediately got up from where I was sitting to help the customer.

"Fine, we'll talk later, but I want to know everything."

As I rang the customer up, I got a glimpse out the window. I would have sworn I had seen a familiar face. The customer was talking to me, but that person had stopped at the window and looked in. They didn't come in then, though.

After we closed, Emily and I went to my house. I was nervous. I didn't know where I would begin, or how I would even tell her, but she needed to know.

We got in the house and she immediately dragged me to the couch. I kept fiddling with the ring on my finger. I was terrified. The only comfort I had was the ring that Danny had given me.

She sat next to me on the couch and turned towards me. She was giddy with excitement.

"Ok, Ally. Tell me everything. Who is he, where'd you meet him, how old is he?"

I couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh. I knew I had to tell her the truth. She needed to know.

"Emily, this is a long story, and it's going to be something you would never expect."

"Well, get on with it."

I started telling her about me falling asleep with that book and the movie. I told her about the 'dream' that I had on a regular basis. I got to the part of getting to New York. I told her that I never got that far in my dream. I told her that's when I first laid eyes on Danny. She stopped me.

"Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me, that you are dreaming about Josh Hartnett?"

I shook my head.

"I thought so, at first, but no. He's Danny Walker."

"Ok, so this is all just a dream, right?"

"Just let me finish the damn story."

"Fine."

I told her everything. I told her about the engagement, and that he had given me a ring. I finally got to where he had died, and that's when I woke up.

"Ok, so this was all just a dream. This still doesn't explain the ring. Where did it come from?"

"That's just it Ev, I mean Em. This ring came from Danny."

She looked at me with complete disbelief. I couldn't blame her.

"Come on, seriously. Where did it come from?"

I shook my head. How was I going to get through to her?

"I'm not lying, Em. This is the ring Danny gave me. I must have time traveled somehow."

She laughed at first, but then she saw the look on my face. She knew I wasn't lying. She knew everything I had told her was the truth. She knew. I was relieved.

"You time traveled? You were gone for a year in your dream, but yet you somehow woke up the day after you fell asleep? Like everything was normal?"

I nodded. I had some tears in my eyes. It was hard to relive all of those memories with Danny. I just didn't know if I could ever love someone like I loved him.

"Well, how did it happen? I mean was there a portal or something?"

I looked around for the book. I remember putting it on the end table before I fell asleep. It wasn't there. There was no sign of it. I had to remind myself to look at the logs at work to see if we had another in inventory.

"All I know is, the only thing that had changed was me reading a book before I fell asleep."

She was in disbelief again, but she knew I was telling the truth.

"Well, where is it?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't know. It's not around here anywhere."

"Well, we'll find it later. I want to know why you didn't change anything."

She was right. Why didn't I change anything? I wanted nothing more than to be with Danny. Why didn't I try to prevent him from going? I knew the answer, though.

"You cannot change history. Time always has a way of correcting itself."

I cried right in front of her. She knew I was right. She knew I was hurting over my loss.

"Well, everything happens for a reason, Alyssa. There was a reason you went back, there was a reason Danny died, and there was a reason you came back when you did. We just have to figure it out. You won't be alone on this. I promise, I will help you. I completely believe everything you are telling me, and I want to help however I can."

She pulled me in for a hug. I was so glad that I had her. I didn't know what I would do if I was in this alone.

Emily had decided to stay the night with me that night. She didn't want to leave me alone. I couldn't blame her. She was worried about me, and I loved her for it.

I went to sleep that night feeling slightly relieved that I had someone to help me with everything. I had started in a peaceful sleep. Then, the nightmares came of the war. I figured they would happen. The last dream I had was about Danny, though. I dreamt I saw him at the book store. It seemed so vivid. Like it was actually happening.

When I woke up, I was in a cold sweat. I started sobbing immediately. The only thing that I could hear was Danny's voice in my head.

"Alyssa?"

I knew it wasn't real because I was still in my bed, but it was morning, and I had to get ready for a day of research and work. I had to get ready for the book store. I needed to know what the day had in store for me.