Afterlife

Chapter 3

"Hey Emily," Amy said as she sat in front of her at the dining table. Emily looked up at her, waiting for her to say something.

"Are you having problems with Benji?" Amy asked. Emily's eyebrows furrowed. "No. Why would you think that?"

"Because you were crying in your sleep last night." She replied. Then Emily remembered that Fat Amy saw her crying in her sleep while they were in the car.

"About that," Emily paused and put down her fork. She thought of how she would explain to her that she's having all these dreams with a girl who only exists in her dreams. And that this non-existent girl is the reason why she's crying in her sleep. Her thoughts were cut when she felt Amy hold her hand. "Emily, you know you can always tell me anything. We're like sisters, you know?"

"Thank you. But you don't need to worry. I probably just had some sad dream last night.  Also, I've been stressed out lately. I haven't been able to write anything since the time that Beca asked me to write a song for their upcoming album." She explained. In the end, Emily still decided to keep her dreams a secret.

"Well, don't worry. Fat Amy is here. I'll make sure that your stay here will be a blast and you'll forget all of your problems." "Thank you." Emily replied with a smile. "Come here, let me give you a hug." Amy said as she stood up and hugged her tight. "Uhm, Amy? You know, I love you but I can't breathe."  Amy loosened her hug to her and Emily gasped for air. "Sorry."

------

"Hey dad, I'm sorry I wasn't able to call you last night." Anna said as she spoke with her father on the phone. "That's alright. I'm glad you called. At least now I know that you arrived there safe." Her father replied.

"Yeah. Uhm, I have to go now dad. The bus is here. I'll just message you later about the flight and everything." She said before she hung up. Anna hopped on the bus and quickly found a seat beside the window.

She put her headphones on and played a song on her ipod. She looked outside and admired the scenery as the bus passed by various shops and buildings.

The bus dropped her off in the bus stop near the community library. Anna took out a pamphlet from her bag. It says that today is the last day that they will be exhibiting the works of Emily Dickinson. She put the pamphlet back inside her bag and walked towards the library.

Anna has always admired the works of Dickinson ever since she found a copy of a compilation of her poems in the library when she was a freshman. She was drawn to her words and the way the poet wrote her poems. It was liked there was a string in her heart that was being pulled as she reads those poems. So when she read about an online advertisement about the exhibition, she did not hesitate to book a ticket to it. She was planning to go to Australia anyway.

-----

Fat Amy dropped off Emily in front of a coffee shop near the community library in Sydney. "Are you sure you're going to be fine on your own?" Amy asked. "Yup. Don't worry about me. Just go on with your meeting. I know it's very important for you." She replied.

"Thanks. I'll treat you later for dinner." Amy said. "I'll look forward to that." Emily replied. "Good luck!"

She was about to cross the street when she saw a familiar face. The face that only she could recognize with her eyes closed. It seems that time has stopped for Emily when she saw a girl walking on the other side of the street.

That long, flowing hair, that pretty face, those brown eyes - how can she not recognize those. It feels like she was thrown back to her dream. "Sue." She muttered.

She was about to cross the street to follow the girl but she was stopped by the vehicles passing by. When the vehicles are gone, so is the girl who looked exactly like the girl of her dreams.

Emily crossed the street immediately. She looked around her and in every corner of the shops around her but there's no sign of the girl.

"Sue.. Please tell me you are real."