I feel a hand caressing my forehead, gently combing my hair. I opened my eyes to see mother and father standing by me, peering into my face, obviously worried.

“What happened?” I said. I was already in the mat by the tree, safely tucked in my mother;s arms.
“You were having a bad dream child,” we were trying to wake you up. I don’t understand. Was it only a dream?
“But it seemed so real,” I protested. “I know it is, mother. I didn’t dream it.”

“Child you’ve been having nightmares. You’ve been having a lot this past two weeks. You really must get more fresh air but don’t quite let your imagination run away with you.” I just stared at her, bewildered. It’s true that I have been having a lot of nightmares now, but I know this one isn’t. But why would mother and father tell me a lie?

“I know it’s real,” I whispered, more to myself than to them, but I guess mother had either heard or she simply read me. She always seems to read my thoughts, or she wouldn’t have said the right things when I need them most.

“I know it’s hard Alexa. But you must control it. If your fears are to take their way with you, you’ll never get better. Come now child, it’s okay. We’ll always be here for you.” She said as she pulled me once more into a bone-crushing hug. For some reason I wasn’t really sure.

I looked up at both of them. “Promise?”

“Promise.” They both said.

“Come now,” father said. “It’s time we should be getting home.”

“Yes, I’ll just have to pack all these things up.” Well now that gave me an idea.

“I can do it mother.” I knew how to do it. I stood up and snapped my fingers – and the dishes and foods have packed up on thir own accord. It’s one of the things I learned I could do when I was six.

“Well, I’m glad you got a good use for that ability of yours.”

“Of course mother.”

Mom and dad walked hand-in-hand as we went home, as they let me go ahead of them, skipping all about and making all the flowers float about me. The butterflies were out and one of them rested on my head – the incident earlier all seemed to be forgotten.

Not for me though, I kept thinking about it all the way home. I still think there was something wrong.

Somehow, it was quite a longer walk than I had expected it to be. It was dark when we got home. Normally, we would stay up late during my birthday, talking about all sorts of things and playing. But tonight, much to my surprise, mom insisted on my going to bed early. I followed without a fuss of course, I do have some other things in my mind that I should settle tonight.