Time After Time

Chapter 3: Photograph

Present Day

'.... "Lacey,  please stop!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, causing her to stop right in her tracks, in the middle of the street.

Lacey turned around, glimpsing at the figure standing in the heavy rain. The rain was coming down in torrents, blurring Lacey's vision. She expected that he would give up by now but he didn't. There he was, standing next to the gate of the studio building. He came after her. And then she realized, he still really loved her.

Just before she was about to take another step back in his direction, she was startled by the blaring sound of a car horn, ringing through the air. Two blinding lights suddenly blazed ahead like two shining eyes peering through a silver waterfall. With a jolt, Lacey realized those lights belonged to a car - a car that was speeding out of control toward her. She couldn't move; she couldn't see anything. The sound of the  car's screeching brakes and tires skidding on the wet pavement...'

A  thunderous boom jolted Lauren awake from her frightful nightmare. Her eyes snapped open, and she abruptly sat up in bed, her heart pounding.  Her cheeks were wet, and her body was drenched in a cold sweat. The sheets were tangled around her limbs, likely from thrashing in her sleep. The room was dark, with only a sliver of light peeking through the small gap between the drapes on her window.

Lauren trembled as she breathed heavily, noticing that Macca was asleep on the floor as usual. 'God, that felt so real,'  she thought to herself. The remnants of her nightmare clung to her mind, almost haunting her. She was bewildered the more she pondered the dream. It was rare for her to remember her dreams, and even rarer for them to feel so realistic—especially when they involved John Lennon. It had been long since she dreamt about him, but why was he calling her  'Lacey' in the dream?

She sighed heavily and glanced at the clock: 6:42 a.m. Today was a big day for her, no matter how anxious she felt, she couldn't miss work. It was a stepping stone toward achieving her dream of pursuing photography independently.  Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, she lazily got out of bed, careful not to wake Macca, and began preparing for the day.

Half an hour later, Lauren rushed to the mirror, quickly checked her reflection, and grabbed her camera case. Macca, as usual, sluggishly waddled to the front door to say his daily goodbyes. He pressed his body against her leg, looking up at her with big eyes.

"I  know it's early, but I'll be home sooner," she said, bending down to ruffle his fur and scratch behind his ears. "Then we can go on a walk,  how about that?"

He wagged his tail excitedly, his tongue hanging out happily, and barked loudly, as if he understood every word she said.

Lauren giggled as she swung her black camera case over her shoulder and snatched her keys from the hook by the front door. "Be a good boy," she whispered, careful not to wake the other tenants in the building.

Excitedly, she opened her front door, reached behind to twist the knob and lock it, then gently closed it behind her.

Despite her awful dream that morning, Lauren was looking on the bright side.  Deciding to rid herself of the last remnants of memories with Jason felt like the best decision she could have made. It was as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, a burden she had carried for far too long.

Just before exiting the building complex, Lauren noticed a man in a suit sleeping on the floor near the main door, curled up against the wall. It wasn't the first time she'd seen homeless or drunk individuals seeking shelter here. 'Not again,' she thought, as she made her way out the door, trying not to let it distract her.

It was a beautiful day—nothing could bring her down. The birds were chirping, people walked by, busily chatting on their phones, and taxis and cars honked at garbage trucks blocking the streets. It was a gorgeous morning in New York City.