Time After Time

Chapter 3: Photograph

Present Day

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

Lacey turned around, looking at the figure standing there, also in the heavy rain. The rain was coming down in torrents, blurring Lacey's vision. She had hoped that he would have given 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 knew, 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 startled Lauren out of her frightful nightmare. Her eyes quickly opened, abruptly sat up in her bed, her heart pounding against her chest. Her cheeks were wet and her body was bathed in a cold sweat. The sheets were twisted around her limbs, probably because she was thrashing in her sleep. The room was dark, with just a little bit of light poking through the tiny space between the drapes on her window.

Lauren trembled as she heavily breathed, seeing that Macca was still 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 in bewilderment the more she thought about the dream. It was a very rare occurrence that she remembered her dreams, but even more, so that they were realistic - especially when they included John Lennon. It had been a long time since she dreamt about him but why was he calling her 'Lacey' in the dream?

She heavily sighed, taking a glance at the clock. 6:42 a.m. Today was a big day for her and no matter how anxious she was feeling, she could not miss work, for it was something that would allow her to be able to do what she always yearned to do - take her photography independently. Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, she lazily departed from the bed, trying her best not to wake Macca, and started to get ready for the day.

An half hour later, she rushed to the mirror, quickly skimmed her reflection, and grabbed her camera case. Macca sluggishly waddled to the front door, as usual, to say his daily goodbyes to her. He pressed the side of his body up against her leg, glancing up at her tall frame.

"I know it's early, but I'll be home sooner," she bent down and ruffled his fur, scratching behind his ears, "And then we can go on a walk, how about that?"

He excitedly wagged his tail, his tongue hanging out happily, and let out a loud bark as if he understood exactly what she was saying.

Lauren giggled as she swung her black camera case over her shoulder, snatching her keys from off the key hook that was hung next to the front door, "Be a good boy," she said in almost a whisper, afraid to wake up the rest of the tenants in the building.

Excitedly, she opened her front door and reached behind, twisting the knob on the inside door, locking it, and gently closing it behind her.

Despite the awful dream she had this morning, Lauren was looking on the bright side of things. The decision she made yesterday on ridding the last piece of what was left of her memories of Jason was the best thing she felt she could have done for herself. It was as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders, a weight that had been holding over her for far too long.