Brielle's Beginning

Epilogue

My alarm startles me awake, its melodic screeching launches me into reality. I hit the snooze and rub my eyes deeply as my body takes inventory of any new aches and pains. It's been about two years since I've had a restful night's sleep. Two years since it started, the dream that would come to torment me every night for the foreseeable future. It's always the same, I'm in this burning structure frozen in a corner. This gentle woman with the deepest pools of emerald you've ever seen appears in my face. She is saying something, but my ears are focused on the crackling walls around me. She grabs my wrists and forces me into movement towards the door. Once we get outside, my body is engulfed with searing pain and I collapse in the dirt.

The woman crouches down and cups my face. Her voice sounds like a sad song in my ears," I'm so sorry Brielle. I never wanted you to be alone for this." My vision blackens and suddenly, I'm running. Running fast but not like one would expect to run. No, when i run I'm on all fours like an animal. I run without direction all night.

I've been to doctors. Their solution was of the big pharma persuasion. My Native friend said it was my spirit animal trying to show me something. I even went to a psychic who was both the least and most helpful. They told me the dream had to do with the history of my bloodline. While this was an incredibly helpful bit of knowledge, it was rendered useless in my hands. You see, I was adopted at just three years old to this couple, who were nice enough. I've wanted for nothing my whole life. It'd only been since i started college two years ago when I declared my need to be independent. Housing and tuition were non-negotiable in their eyes, but everything else is me. The story of my birth parents goes as such. One rainy full moon night, we were on our way home and hydroplaned into a semi. I was the only survivor. They had no form of ID and were not recorded in any of the hospitals' data banks. No one even came to claim their bodies. They were cremated as John and Jane Doe.

That was over 17 years ago though. I'm 20 now. I'm a junior at the University of Montana. My major is graphic design and my ultimate dream is to design fantasy video games. Something about that world has always drawn me in, I just want to be a part of its creation.

My phone vibrates and I grab it. It's June, my best friend. 'Liquid gold draining into the cups now!' The text reads and I chuckle. Since the sleepless nights have started, she makes it a point to get us coffee in the morning, so I can download some resemblance of a human.

"s**t, I'm going to be late. Rosie, come." My brindle pit follows me from the bed. I put her outside while I get ready for school. Black tank, bra, panties and leggings. Such a basic white girl's fall outfit, but I've always been comfort over style. I tie my waist-length auburn hair into a ponytail and braid it. A little mascara and eyeliner to accentuate the stormy blue grey in my eyes. Light pink gloss to my supply lips, and I'm out the door.

The drive to campus is a relatively quick one. I'd lucked out finding an apartment just ten minutes from campus. My parents were afraid I'd spend too much time at parties if I lived on campus. I enjoyed the ability to separate into my quiet space away from it all.

I arrived and hopped out of my car. June is there waiting for me already holding out my 32 oz iced quad shot goodness," Ah you're my lifesaver." I gush as I take the coffee and start gulping it down.

"No rest again last night, huh?" She asks, concerned. To which I shook my head in response," I don't know how you manage to keep upright. I'm utterly useless on anything less than 10 hours."

I chuckle," I'm just a creature of the night my dear, it's this whole daytime business my body objects to." We link arms and head towards class. The day drolls on slowly until my last class of the day. When he walked in.