Once Upon A Puppet

A Blurred Memory

Heavy breathing. Vision giving away to the fog of mind. She is trying to run faster but the feet are giving away as if they no longer belong to her. She must run away. She must. The light there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just forty more paces. She can reach it. Its coming closer. A loud bang! She opens her eyes. The same dream over and over replaying in her mind. She woke up covered in sweat as if she had been boxing but she knows. She got up her breathing was not normal. "Count to twenty, Anne" she muttered out of breath. One, two three......

The room was dimly lit only the light of the moon which entered scattered through the window illuminated the room. There were just a bed and a study table in the room. She put on her crocs. Jumped out of bed. It was chilly after all it was the middle of November. She made her way to the kitchen. Her aunt had forgotten to put a glass of water today so she must fetch it herself. For the Anne of winter of last year this was no big of a deal but this Anne this changed Anne who was now scared by the sight of her shadows this was no less than a nightmare. A nightmare equivalent to the one she woke up from. The door creaked a little when she opened it. Her heart raced a little but soon it calmed down. Fortunately, the hall was lit. Perhaps, her aunt was awake. She glanced at the grandfather clock placed at the very end of the hallway. One of the night.

She felt her way through the hallway downstairs. Her aunt was asleep. She quickly made her way to the kitchen. Poured a glass of water. And quickly almost ran to her bedroom. She locked the door again and hid under the sheets. Sleep would take its time to come and she tried not to overthink. Listening to her breath made Anne uneasy. Why it was so calm but her mind was racing.

In the streets of pines fall right now no one was found. The streetlamp flickered in the dark the sky was soft and cloudless stars were glittering the winter wind danced in the streets, merciless.

It took about an hour or two for her to enter her leftover slumber. Life was not easy for Anne winters but she was a fighter, she was brave, she was alive after who knows what.

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The sun had risen. The sweet aroma of pancakes filled the house. Anne made her way down to the kitchen. The sunlight lit the whole room. Ingredients on the counter, aunt singing merrily and making pancakes. Good at both the activities. Anne quietly sat down at the table and aunt presented her with her finest pancakes.

"Chocolate syrup?" she questioned.

"Did I use to like it?" Anne looked puzzled.

"Not really. You were more of a banana person." Aunt smiled. The small white teeth in her mouth glimmered.

"Hmm nothing changed I guess then". Anne tried to force a laugh. But it was helpless. Tears rained instead.

Her aunt sat by her side." My dear, everything might have changed but sometimes we have to move on."

"What is it that I am forgetting?" she said sobbing " I've tried countless time... to,,, to..." she broke into another hysterical cry.

"Its alright dear, dont think about it too much dont think about it at all". She rubbed her back." We all have to face choices sometimes. In such choices moving on and forgetting what's forgotten is the best".

"But... is it easy?"

"Not all good choices are easy."

She went up to clean herself.

The tap water was running. She looked into the bathroom mirror. What has changed in me? What is it that everyone notices? Why do I Have the same recurring dreams? Its like my life is a puzzle and nothing is in place yet the picture is complete. Such thoughts ran through her mind.