One Summer Day [Romance-Thriller]

Chapter 1 - My Teddy Bear

"Mommy?" My voice sounds so small I almost can't recognize it. I don't care, though.

I'm looking through a small door that is all familiar to me. Through the gap, I can see my mother's back. She's moving the boxes aside, and it seems like she didn't hear me.

I turned around, the ray of the sun hitting my face. I squinted, my eyes stinging as they adjust to the bright light. Seconds later, the brightness dissolved and I saw the cabinet in the middle of the room. My stuffed teddy bear's foot can be seen hanging from the top of the cabinet.

"I'll be there, Ashley," I heard Mom's voice echoing in the room. "I'll be there..." the voice kept saying. Suddenly, the voice doesn't seem like my Mom's anymore. Slowly, it morphed into a sound that's so scary. Goosebumps traveled through my body. 

"I'll be there," I heard it again, this time closer to my ear. The person's breath felt cold when it touched the side of my face, I can't help but let out a loud scream.

"Ashley! It's okay, I'm here!" it's a man's voice.

Still screaming, I opened my eyes and realized that it was all a dream. My Dad's face registered in my mind and I quickly sit up to hug him.

"Daddy..." is all I can say, tears racing down my cheeks. I let the warm liquid land on my father's shirt as I cry, relieved that it was all a dream.

The dream happens all the time, more often than before that I expect it every night. Sometimes, it is the reason why I stay up until I'm so tired I can't force my eyes open anymore. The dreams have the same story - me standing by the small door watching my Mom, seeing my old teddy bear on the same spot, and later, I start hearing the voice that scares me since childhood. It always ends there, and I would always wake up screaming. I'm glad my father is always there whenever it happens.

After breakfast, I sat on the top porch step as I watch my father drive away for work. He works as a 911 dispatcher, and sometimes, I am left alone at night. This worries my Dad, especially because I'm having those bad dreams a lot now. I wonder if his boss allowed him to stick to a day shift.

For a typical summer day, I would just stay home and read my books. My Dad wanted me to go camping with some teenagers, but I always refuse. I am convinced that I hate socializing with people now. I feel like being alone is better than being in the crowd. 

However, today is different. 

"I saw you watching all those gardening tutorials on Youtube last week. I thought maybe you can spend some time messing up with the lawn," Dad told me over breakfast, just a while ago. 

I looked up at him. He was looking at me with a soft smile on his face. My Dad is old now, but all my life, all he did was care for me. Especially when my Mom left, or disappeared.  I don't really know what happened to her.

I was filled with happiness when he said that.

"Seriously? You're letting me touch the lawn?"

He nodded.

I smiled wider than ever, but not for long. I realized something.

"But how? We don't have plants and the gardener's supply store is a few miles away. Plus, can you drive me there today? I mean, I can do it today, right?" too much talking there, but I was just really excited when my Dad got the hint. I love our lawn, but it is honestly so boring. People who are not from our street would think a really old man who hates plants lives in our house.    

Dad chuckled.

"Yeah, of course you can start today. I've asked a friend of mine, Johnny - you know him, right?"