brothers.

70~ Why?

Diana

I woke up humming a tune. It wasn't a familiar tune, but for some reason, I was humming it continuously, as if I knew it all my life. I wasn't sure what it was.

The tune continued, even after I'd stopped humming. Turning over, a little girl sat on the floor, playing with a doll. I couldn't really see the doll, though. It was weirdly distorted, as if I weren't allowed to see it.

"Who are you?" I asked, sitting up.

The little girl ignored me, continuing her humming.

"Are you... me? But..." Usually, when I started thinking to myself, I'd envision versions around 10 years old, mostly. Most of my younger versions weren't in my mind's eye. I wouldn't think about those times too much.

She kept humming, ignoring me completely. I sighed, a bit impatient, and hung my legs over the edge of the bed. "Okay, I know you're me. Pretty sure I'm dreaming, too. What do you want?"

"You don't remember that song?" she asked.

"What song?"

"That one." She hummed again, brushing her doll's hair. "You don't remember?"

"I... don't."

"That's sad," she said. "You don't remember a lotta things."

"What do you mean?"

"You dream a lot. And you think a lot. But you don't know a lot. You don't want to. You hided it in your head."

I shook my head, confused. "I legit don't know-"

"Mommy said I was smart. So if you're Big Me, you should be smart. But you're not. Not if you forgetted our song."

"Oh, so I'm dumb if I don't remember a song?" I approached her. "What are you doing, anyway?"

"Playing with my doll. Did you forget her, too?" She held it out to me; it was as if it were made of static. I couldn't really comprehend what it looked like.

As I reached out to take it, an iron hand gripped my fist, a dark shadow casting over me. Looking up, I saw him. The same face that greeted me on Halloween night. The same face that I feared over 12 years ago.

He wasn't my uncle. Soon, the system would hand me over to my real parents for good, and I wouldn't have to worry about him. He wasn't in my life anymore. He had no control.

"You little rat," he growled. "You're mine. You know that. You'll always be mine."

I couldn't move. I wanted to punch him, kick him, pull away. But my body was locked in place.

"You'll never escape. You'll always be the pathetic, disgusting little orphan you were 12 years ago."

His hand left my wrist, leaving it aching, and I fell against the wall. I could only watch as he approached Little Me, snatching her doll away and holding her in the air as he screamed curses at her. Her small hands clawed at his larger, thicker fingers, futilely trying to fight back.

"Stop it!" I stood, barreling towards him with all my weight and strength. Instead, I went right through him, collapsing on the floor. My surroundings blurred and rippled.

Looking down, I saw the doll. It was still distorted, but it was getting clearer. I could just about see its face...

Which turned into a Golden Retriever's face, licking me on my forehead.

I gasped, scared out of my mind. I was tangled in my sheets, lying next to my bed. Lonnie whimpered and lied across me.

"Oh, God... Lonnie, I'm fine. Just let me get up." I patted his head and got myself out of my mess of sheets and comforters. I was wearing my smart watch, which read 6:05 AM. I groaned.