Nightmare Recurring

Chapter III: Falling

Life is an illusion. We see things the way they appear and not as they are. Life is a journey we take one day at a time. We're like birds learning to fly. For some of us it's easy the first try, for others it could take a few times.. and sometimes some of us never get the chance to fly. It's easier to fall than to fly, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Then we'd never know how far we could have flown.
I didn't mean to make all that rhyme so much.
Brooke wrote in her journal.

I forgot to ask Sam yesterday. We forgot the whole thing. The two guys dressed in black, the fire in the corner.. could they have been relative to each other somehow? After I told her what happened, we never talked about what she said to the other guy.
I never thought I would have a best friend like Sam, but now I do. It's really weird how we just met and we've already developed what seems like will become a lifelong friendship. I just hope I can trust her.
She wrote.
She closed the journal and started washing the dishes she ate breakfast off of.
"Oh Miss Brooklyn, you don't have to do that. That's why we're here!" One woman wearing a formal outfit for cleaning told her.
"No it's fine, I enjoy it sometimes. It's relaxing. It gets your mind off of things." Brooke said to her.
"Sometimes it even helps keep your mind on things, to help you figure them out." Brooke thought to herself.
"Alright Miss Brooklyn. If ever you need any help, don't be afraid to ask!" The woman told her.
"Ok, thank you" Brooke replied before the woman walked out of the room.
"Miss Brooklyn" she thought to herself.
"I would tell her to call me Brooke, but I kinda like the sound of that.. Miss Brooklyn." She thought, smiling.

The sun was bright in New York this morning. It was the beginning of another freezing cold day. Brooke could see the breath of many people walking through the streets. It was snowing lightly. It hadn't snowed very much before today.
Brooke got out of the limo. She snuggled her coat as she walked through the snow and into the store.
"Hey Brooke!" Sam yelled from across the store before running over to hug her.
"Hey Sam, how are you?"
"Great, how are you? Feeling better?"
"Yeah." Brooke said knowing it was only half the truth.
"What happened with that guy you talked to yesterday? I forgot to ask you."
"Oh yeah. We're going out, for dinner.. tonight." Sam said before rushing back to work.
"Sam that's great, I'm happy for you." Brooke told her as Sam looked at her in confusion.
"I thought you didn't want me to," Sam told her.
"I never said that, I'm happy you have a date. Tell me everything." Brooke told Sam before they discussed more in detail.

"So then I said that would be perfect. So now you have to come." Sam told her.
Brooke shook her head.
"I can't... not after what happened yesterday. I made a complete idiot out of myself."
"Brooke, that doesn't matter. I heard he likes you," Sam said nudging her.
Brooke smiled with disbelief. She kind of liked him too.
"Good morning girls, how are things looking?" Rachel asked them as she walked out of her office.
"Great, we were just going to check the women's department." Sam told her.
"Oh good, well I have to leave to a meeting but I'll be back before your shift ends. I'll see you two later!" Rachel said before leaving the store.
"Alright bye, have a good time." Sam told her as Brooke nodded and smiled.

"C'mon Brooke," Sam said walking over to her as she was checking the clothes.
"It's just for one night. There's going to be this big fancy ball." Sam continued.
"I don't really have clothes for that."
"...No, I meant this actual ball.. it's really fancy."
"Really" Brooke asked her.
"No, kidding.. I kid a lot. You should come.. I'm sure you have enough money to buy something perfect before tonight. I'll help. C'mon, it'll be fun. What's the worse thing that could happen?"
Brooke thought about it before answering.
"Ok.. let's go to a ball."

The sun was setting and the lighting was beyond beautiful, as usual.
"Mom, I don't think I can do it. I'm not like the other girls" Brooke told her mother.
"You're right, you're not like the other girls. You're different, and that's good. You're perfect, my princess." Gwen said while combing Brooke's hair up.
"You're gonna be great, baby. I believe in you, I always will." She told an 8 year old Brooke. She was going to her first dance with her dad. Brooke was nervous. She felt insecure, even with all the confidence she thought she'd always have.
"Really Momma?"
"Really baby, no matter what."
"No matter what" Brooke heard echo in her thoughts.
"You look beautiful, sweetie!" Nona said as Brooke walked out of her bedroom in a silver ball gown.
"Oo B you look liek uh prinsehss. Mor prettyur den ma dollz, Nona!" Colly told them.
"Yes sweetheart, this gown was designed by one of the biggest designers in France. I asked him to send me some of his newest designs just before you two girls came over. I knew you might've needed them." Nona told them.
"Thank you Nona, I love it."
"You're welcome, darling. Have fun tonight, you deserve it." Nona told her as she hugged her goodbye.
"Bye B hav da good tiime!"
"Bye Colly, thank you."
Brooke left on her way to the limousine waiting outside. As she walked down the hallway, she stumbled upon a mirror. In the mirror, Brooke saw a little girl.. it was the ugliest little girl she once saw years ago. She saw a beautiful dress and beautiful hair up in a princess-like bun, but she also saw the face of the girl in the mirror. It was the face of the girl she wanted to leave behind. She avoided mirrors.