"This is what she had become."
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Cleopatra Banks' last week in the small town of New Chelsea is nothing like she would have imagined it, but nothing could have prepared her for the stinging betrayal she's faced with and suddenly the prospect of...
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She smiles at me.
A smile like I've never seen before, one that promises happiness and joy and other amazing things.
A hint of mischief lingers in her eyes.
A look that promises adventure.
She'll lead me to the heights. I just have to put my hand in hers and run with her. She knows everything.
My hand slips in hers but another hand tugs on my other arm.
His face is a breathtaking mirage.
He cries, begging me to stay with him.
I can't.
Slowly my hand slips out of his and she whisks me away on a cloud. I don't look back but I know I've left my heart with him and it shatters into a billion little pieces.
***
"Cleo, Cleo honey wake up," my mother's sweet voice coerces me out of sleep. My eyes flutter open and I find her hovering above me. Warm tears seep out of my eyes and fall down my cheeks and she wipes them away with the back of her hand.
She gives me a kiss on my damp forehead. I've also been sweating.
"Did you have a bad dream?" she asks and I give her a small nod, the images from my dream swimming in my mind.
I don't normally dream but when I do it's usually something stupid and laughable like being chased by flamingos or me sliding down rainbows. But this one was so different and vivid as though it really happened.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asks, still cradling me in her arms. I shake my head. "I don't remember much but it just left me feeling bad," I tell her.
"Aw, my angel. You know, sometimes bad dreams are caused by our fears and if you get over your fears you won't have any nightmares," she says to me with a smile on her face.
"Okay now get up, put on your running shoes and meet me downstairs in ten minutes," she tells me and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "Mom, the sun's not even out yet," I complain but this doesn't seem to bother her.
"I know, that's the point. I want to show you something, so get up and get ready. Before Ruby wakes up," she says, walking out of my room, not giving me a chance to protest.
I take a hold of my phone which has found it's new home on my bedside table only to find that it's not even six in the morning yet. What could mom be up to?
It vibrates in my hand and I open Ethan's text and chuckle at his beautifully worded good morning message –Hi the text reads.
Friday night replays in my mind, my heart strings tighten. It was the first time Ethan had opened up that way about anything. I honestly didn't think he'd open up so soon but then again, the news of the tournament was also unexpected.
