“Alice, I have always loved you… goodbye.”

“No!”

I sprung up from my mattress, feeling the cold sweat going down my neck. Tears running down my cheek like a river. I clutched my body and shivered, the same dream once again.

For weeks I have been having the same dream about some...some girl. She keeps calling out to me. She keeps saying she… loves me. Just who in the world is she.

The only thing I understood was that I didn’t want her to leave.

I looked out the window to see the sun already up. The orange horizon is already taking over the blue sky. It’s noon? Sigh, I overslept again.

I shook my head and slapped my face with both hands. This was not the time to dwell on the same things again. I have exams soon and I had to study.

I got up and walked over to the kitchen sink that was in the same room. I soaked my hands with the warm water and proceeded to dampen my blonde hair just a little. People always tell me I look like a princess, but in the mornings I must look more like an unkempt vampire.

I turned around to scan my small room. It wasn’t much, just a simple floor apartment with everything compact together. I picked up my phone to see if I had any messages.

Hmm, a message from Stacy asking about ice skating. One from Jess about a study group.

“Sure, let’s get together.” I said aloud as I texted the group chat.

I mean, we can go ice skating and study at the same time right? We can study ice skating as well. I nodded my head as the multitask genius.

“Alice.”

I dropped my phone and looked up. I swear I heard my name being called out so clearly. But there is no one here. There hasn’t been anyone here for quite some time…

Everytime I hear that stupid voice, makes me tear up. Like I have these unchecked emotions that have just sprouted up recently. Ever since I went to that stupid Museum alone, it’s like a big chunk of me has been ripped out.

I stood still for a few moments. Only hearing the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Whatever, whatever. I need to come to my senses. There is no random ghost girl, and there is nobody calling my name. It’s all in my head. Inhale and exhale… I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll sleep a little more until the others come over.

I walked back to my covers on the floor and crawled inside the blanket. I wasn’t necessarily sleepy but… I need to hear that fleeting voice again.

I laid my head on the pillow and closed my eyes. It was almost instant.

“Hello?” I called out, walking along the white vastness.

I walked… and walked… and walked, but never felt tired. Nothing came into sight, nothing appeared before me. I brought my arm to cover my eyes. Why am I—

“Crying? You are such a crybaby, did you know?”

I lowered my arm beneath my eyes, becoming conscious of my loud sniffling. That voice.

I looked up, seeing the girl with two hair clips on along with a checkered skirt. She stood there with her hands behind her back and with the widest smile I’ve ever seen… but I don’t know her.

“Why do you… keep calling my name?” I said between the sniffles.

Her eyes widened, “You can hear me?! Can you see me as well?”

She started to flare her arms up and down like she was one of those long inflatable balloons outside of stores.

I nodded my head, not seeming to be able to find the words that I wanted to say. Like ‘who are you?’ or ‘why am I drawn to you?’ A part of me didn’t want to find out…

“Finally! Why’d you take so long, Alice? And why are you pretending to no—.” She paused, walking closer until I could feel her breath. “You… do know who I am right?”

“N-no. I only recognized your voice.”

The girl staggered backwards, I could sense the sadness behind her eyes. Her body started to fade.

“Wait!”

It didn’t take long before the rest of her was no longer in front of me.

“It seems I have been forgotten, let’s leave it like that… Goodnight, my Alice.”

The voice echoed in that white space. Why does she have to go? Why, why, why!

I stood crying in that place for an hour. Then I sat down on my knees, just wanting to wake up from whatever this stupid dream is. It must have been more than five hours that I sat and laid there. Am I dead?

“Have you still not left yet?!” The voice rang in my ear.

I must be hearing things, looking around the room to see the same nothingness around me.

“Up here.”

I turned my head up to see the girl flying in her —

“Um… your panties.” I said, using my hand to visor over my eyes.

“Huh? Panty? Why are yo— ah!” her face reddened and she flew down beside me, pulling down the hem of her skirt,

I let out a light chuckle and then broke out to full on laughter. Just what is she? An idiot?

“No, I can’t seem to wake up… I thought if I fell asleep here, I would be able to wake up but I don’t feel tired at all.”

“That is strange,” she said, stroking her chin, “well, it can’t be helped. Let’s visit my home.”

“Your home?”

She clapped her hands and the world around us started to change. A bed of flowers sprouted beneath my feet and a blue sky started to fill above me.

“Now then, let me show you, my secrets.”

Snap