Battle Scars

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Anna

"she was proof that broken things can still be beautiful"

• • • • •

"Hello mi querido." It was a familiar smile, one that used to bring me so much joy whenever I would see it.

My eyes begin to water as she stands there in front of me. "Mom."

"I've missed you." She says, her yellow dress blows lightly in the breeze as she stands at the edge of a sunflower field. "I'm so proud of the woman you've become."

I race towards her as she speaks, her words drifting through my head. "Mom." I wrap my arms around her and she does the same to me. Her familiar floral scent surrounding me. "I've missed you so much."

Her hand smooths down my hair and she hums thoughtfully. "I see you've met a nice young fellow. Silas is his name correct?"

I pull back to look at her, green eyes like my own looking down at me as she smiles. I nod, tears streaming down my face.

"He's the best mom. You would have loved him."

She runs her thumbs across my cheeks, whipping away my tears. "It's up to you to love him mi querido. Now he's waiting for you, so wake up."

Her fingers began to fade and the flower field around us began to shrink away.

"Wait! Mom."

She smiles at me as her body begins to fade as well. "Wake up Anna." She says, "wake up."

I jump up, my eyes snapping open to find myself in my room. Silas is sitting next to me, a worried look on his face as he grasps my left hand in his own.

"Darling, what's wrong?" He asks as soon as I look at him.

I touch my cheek to find a wet trail of tears. That dream felt so real, it was almost as if she was right here with me.

"Darli-"

I wrap my arms tightly around Silas's neck, pulling his body down so that he's awkwardly bent over me.

"I'm okay." I say into his shoulder.

I feel his hands snake up my back as he holds me to him, our chests pressed together. He buries his face in my hair and sighs, one hand resting on my head. "You scared me. You were crying in your sleep and you kept yelling wait. I didn't know what to do."

I squeeze him lightly in reply, letting him now I'm okay now. We sit in each other's arms for what feels like forever, his breathing calming my racing heart after that dream.

When he finally pulls away his hands stay on my face as he inspects me. "You're eyes are swollen. Will you be okay once everyone shows up?"

I nod slowly as he wipes whatever tears are left on my face, his calloused thumb running gently over my skin.

"Why are you here so early?" I ask him.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay before you and your dad left for the cemetery. Lance told me I could wake you up." He explains.

"Are you coming with us?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

I grasp his hand in mine and look at him pleadingly. "Please Si, will you? I know she'd want to meet you."