Not My Time

Nightmare

Once I was fully dressed and my hair was not a rat's nest Lydia walked me back outside to where the others were waiting. Then John pulled me over to where he stood.

"Alright, guys this is Kira she will be living with us now. She is here because her family was attacked and she was the only one who made it out. When we found her she was being uh... mistreated by older men of the British army."

"Daddy what do you mean by mistreated?" the youngest boy asks.

"Well it's like when your siblings are being mean to you," Mary says

"Oh, okay continue," he says.

"You guys should treat her like family because though she is not our blood she has had a rough life and needs a new start." They all shake their heads in affirmation and understanding. I scan their faces I notice that Stephen was just looking at me the whole time so I give him a small smile before looking away.

"Come on dear I will show you to the room you will be staying in." Mary escorts me back inside the house and up the stairs to the end of a hall and opens a door. "It might be a little dusty and need some cleaning but It is the last room in the house and now it is yours."

"Thank you, Mary you are too kind."

"It's nothing you deserve to have a normal life as much as possible. I have to get dinner ready, you can get settled in. I'll have someone get you when it's ready." With that, she walked out and went to the kitchen and I was alone in an almost empty room. After a while, Stephen walked in taking a seat on the edge of the bed next to me.

"You settling in alright."

"There's not much settling in to do so."

"Well dinner is ready if you want to eat." He stands up and walks to the door stopping in the doorway and turning to me, " You coming?" He reaches his hand out to me I get up and take his hand and we walk down the hall and to the stairs. He moves to the side so I can walk down the stairs first letting my hand go in the process.

We sat in silence as we ate it was awkward as nobody really knew what to say or do really. After eating I helped with the dishes and everything though Mary said that I didn't have to help but I instead as they were giving me a home and everything saying it is the least I could do.

Later that night I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling trying to fall asleep but it wasn't coming easily so I tried counting sheep, that didn't help so I did something I hadn't done since I was little, I told myself a story. The story I told myself was the story I told Stephen what supposedly happened to my family.

But instead of dreaming of my family I ended up dreaming of The morning I first woke up in this time. It was horrible the men were holding me down over the fallen tree and forcing themselves on me but this time I wasn't rescued by Stephen and his family and horrible things happened. Then next thing I know is there is a soft voice calling my name and gently nudging me.

"Kira hey Kira wake up." when I opened my eyes I see Stephen standing at the side of my bed with his hand on my shoulder.

"Stephen what are you doing in here," I ask while sitting up.

"I heard you talking in your sleep and when I came in here you were thrashing around."

"I was?"

"Yes. What were you dreaming about?" He sits down next to me.

"The day you found me in the woods except what could have happened if you didn't come to the rescue." I hadn't realized that a tear had slipped down until Stephen was wiping it away with his thumb.

"You're ok, you're safe now and nobody is going to do anything like those men were going to do to you. Not if I can help it," He puts his arm around my shoulders and I lean into it letting a few tears fall down my cheeks. After several minutes like that Stephen spoke.

"I should probably go and let you get some rest." he stands up to leave and go back to his room when I grab his hand to stop him.

"No don't go, stay." he gives me a questioning look unsure of what to say in response so I speak again "At least until I fall asleep," he thinks for a moment.

"Ok until you fall asleep." I move over a little bit so there is more room for him to sit down next to me and so he did. He sat leaning up against the headboard putting the extra pillow behind his head. We fell into silence it wasn't awkward like you would think it was actually peaceful and comforting. After a while, I drifted off to sleep this time with no bad dreams.

When I woke up later that morning Stephen wasn't there next to me but I heard movement outside the room so I went to go investigate. I poke my head out the door to see Hannah right outside the door.

"Oh did I wake you I'm sorry Stephen told me to let you sleep longer but I had to bring these dresses for you."

"It's fine I was already awake."

"Ok well, there is some food downstairs if you want to eat."

"Thank you, Hannah."

"You're welcome Kira." I walk towards the stairs surprised that she remembered my name. I arrive at the kitchen dining area where Mary is working on cleaning up from the others eating.

"Oh, Kira you're up. Stephen said not to wake you that you had a long night, would you like some breakfast?"

"Yes please." she sets a plate of food down at the table and I gladly sit down and start to eat. Once I finish I take my plate over and help Mary finish cleaning up.

"Kira Not that I am not appreciative but you don't have to help me I always do this alone you can go and join Lydia and Hannah with their work it is much more pleasant than working in the kitchen."

"Are you sure you will be okay in here I mean you have to do the cooking and the cleaning all by yourself."

"Well, I get help when we have bigger meals with everyday meals I don't need much help."

"Well if you are sure you don't need help." I go back to my temporary room and change into one of the dresses that was left there by Hannah. I head back out and walk down the stairs and as I walk to the door Mary tells me where the other girls are with their little brother. I walk in the direction she points me and soon I see the others playing with Allie the dog.