An irritating beep forces me to wake up. I open my eyes and look around. This room, it feels so strange, but so familiar at the same time. Then I realise it. I'm home, in my own room, in my own house, with my own family. I turn of my alarm clock and look at the date on my phone. November the 28th, just like when I left. The memories came back. Peter and the shadow in my window. Devin, the boy I punched. Tinkerbell, who helped me when I escaped. The mermaid who almost drowned me. Peter saving me. The party and in the end, Peter sending me away. It all looks so strange. These memories don't feel like real things. I think of it. Flying, mermaids, fairies, creepy talking shadows. It couldn't be real. I just made it up in my dreams. But I still feel strange, sad. Like I miss something. Some part of me. Someone. I close my eyes. Peter, I miss him. How can I miss someone who doesn't exist? I didn't know that it was even possible to fall in love in your dreams, let alone missing someone. Am I turning mad? I try to shake it off. There's no time to think about dreams and people I created in them with my imagination. I have to go to school.
I get up and walk to my mirror to get dressed. I look at myself and a sudden shock runs through me. There's still a charcoal line underneath my eyes. I look at my clothes. These are still the comfortable leafy green clothes as I wore at the party in Neverland. And then, as if that wasn't enough proof, I notice a leather string around my neck. I take it out of my shirt and there it is, the beautiful light pink pearl Peter gave me. I can't control myself anymore. I fall onto my knees and burst out into tears. Everything was real. Everything I did. Every person I've met. Everything. I realise that I actually had a good time in Neverland, even though I missed my family and friends. And now I'm here. Back home with my family and friends, but I feel lonelier than I've ever felt in my entire life. I realise how Peter just send me away and feel heartbroken. But I won't have a shoulder to cry on. My friends wouldn't understand why I'd be crying. And even if I'd tell them, they wouldn't believe me. They'd think that I'm crazy and I can't blame them for that. I just have to forget. Forget about Neverland. Forget about Peter. Even though I know it's impossible. I get up and get dressed. I'll have to live like this. He won't come back to take me away again. Maybe time will heal things. And maybe, just maybe, I'll forget.
