CHARLOTTE

CHAPTER 1

I wake up screaming and crying. I hear footsteps and my room's door opens with a loud noise. It is my mom followed by my younger brother.

"Are you having nightmares again?" she asks with a voice full of worry. I don't answer. What should I tell her, I think.

 I have been having nightmares for a week now but I hadn't screamed until today. It was a nightmare which I will never want to recall. She sits down and caresses my hair. I return it with a tight hug. I wipe my tears and I look up at her worried face. She holds my hands with both of hers.

 "Do you feel better?" she asks again.

 "Yes" I mumble.

She gets up. My brother hasn't spoken a single word the whole time. He is looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and worry. "I'm fine" I tell him looking at his expression. 

"I hope you don't go on crying after mom and I leave" he says with a tensed voice. Though he is younger than me, I  always feel as if he is the older one.

He is tall, slender with medium blonde hair, thick eyebrows, pale green eyes and fair complexion. I envy his hair color because mine are light auburn. I am lost in my thoughts and can't hear him speaking.

 "Are you okay?" he asks a bit loudly. "Yes, I'm fine" I reply looking at him. He turns around to leave followed by mom. I check the time and it is only 3 am. I don't feel like going back to sleep because I don't want to have another nightmare.

I check the date. "Oh gosh!" I exclaim because today is my first day at FPU(Fresno Pacific University) and I pray that the history wouldn't repeat itself.

 I lie down because I have enough time to get ready. I reach for my phone and open the picture gallery. It is filled with mine, mom, dad and Stefan's picture. There is one more picture that belonged to my old friend Cedric. Something had happened between us and we completely stopped talking to each other and seeing each other. I don't know why do I still have it.

"Charlotte!" I hear my mom calling me from downstairs and this brings me back to reality.

 I open the door and walk near the stairs. "Yes, what is it mom?" I ask her.

 "What will you like to have for breakfast?" she asks from the kitchen.

 "Just a cup of coffee" I reply and come back to my room. 

I check the time before going for a refreshing shower. I come back to my room after taking shower and open my wardrobe's door. I take a long time to decide what to wear. Finally, I choose a black slim-fit jeans and a plain gray shirt. I take out my black sneakers from the shoe rack. I get dressed, pack my bag, tie a low ponytail. I check myself in the mirror for one last time and come out of my room.