Hiding Inside

Living in a Dream

     Beams of sunlight gently shown through a window onto her smooth, pale cheek. A tantalizing aroma fills the air, tickling her nostrils. Her blue eyes gently flutter open as they adjust to the morning light pouring into her bedroom. Shimmering gold and yellow tufts of hair flow cross her shoulders as she sits up in her bed and stretches her arms to the sky. The pink and purple flower stickers around her room come to life with the new day. The wonders of this six-year-old girl's imagination flood her walls with warmth and creativity. She pulls the white fuzzy covers off of her lap to place her bare feet on the cold hardwood floor. That magnificent smell caresses her senses once again, and her eyes widen with excitement when she recognizes what is creating such an alluring scent.
     "Christine!" A soft, tender voice calls up the stairs. "Breakfast is ready!"
     Pancakes! She jumped out of bed and raced down the stairs to meet her older sister, Kate, already sitting at the kitchen table.
     Christine's soft eyes were mirrored by the oceans of blue in Kate's eyes. Even with a seven year difference between them, the bond that was formed could never be compromised. Kate was not only Christine's mentor and protector, but she was her best friend.
     "Did you sleep well, Chrissy?" Kate asked with a playful grin. She was the only one who called her Chrissy.
     Christine shushed Kate, attempting to prevent her sister from revealing her late night escapades to her mother, who was busily cooking just a few feet away.
A mystic glow surrounds their mother as if she were an angel. Her mere presence illuminates the entire room, even in her bathrobe and fuzzy blue slippers. Auralia, a name suited for such a beautiful soul. She gifted her daughters with her vibrant blue eyes, silky blonde hair, long, slender figure and fair complexion.
     Their mother stacks four fluffy buttermilk pancakes on each plate, smothers them with butter and drizzles creamy syrup over every inch. She tops each dish with sliced strawberries and a mountain of whipped cream. Auralia presents the plates to her girls, which causes their eyes to light up like sapphires.
     As the girls dig in, their mother sits gazing at her lovely little miracles while she sips her coffee. This moment was simply perfect.
     Suddenly, Christine's sight begins to blur, warping her loved ones' faces into disfigured creatures, barely recognizable. A faint ringing pierces her ears, then gradually gets louder and louder. Christine tightly closes her eyes and covers her ears with her hands, praying for the moment to come back.
The loud ringing stops abruptly, and Christine uncovers her ears, still holding her eyes shut. A faint dripping in the distance echos through the area to meet her ear. Reluctantly she opens her eyes to find nothing but darkness. She was back in her cage, left with sweet yearnings for a life that once was, knowing it will never be again.