***
Darlene Edwards was a heavy sleeper. Her ex-husband used to joke she could sleep through a nuclear holocaust. Yet, the second her daughter’s screams hit her ears, she was instantly alert. Flying through the house blindly, she raced towards the sound of Kate’s terror. The maternal need for her daughter consumed her. Swinging open Kate’s bedroom door, a certain relief swept over her as she saw Kate in a semi-unconscious state. Tears stained her daughter’s face and she was breathing heavily. While giving her a gentle shake, Darlene wrapped her arms around Kate’s body. As Kate awoke, the screams were replaced by sobs.
“I saw her, Mom, I saw him hurt her,” she cried into her mother’s shoulder.
“Honey, it was only a bad dream,” she cooed gently and began to rub her hair the same way she had done when Kate was a young child.
“No, it wasn’t a dream. Mom, I saw her…I saw Cori. I saw the man who took her. He hurt her—badly,” she sobbed.
“Baby, calm down and listen to me. It was only a bad dream—your subconscious exhibiting your fears for her. You went to bed anxious about Detective Corbett’s visit, that’s all,” she reasoned.
Kate’s wide eyes stared back at her. Darlene marveled at how young and innocent she looked at that moment. “No, Mom, I was there. I don’t know how or why, but I saw everything. I can help the police find her, but I told Jared I couldn’t. What kind of person does that make me?”
“Hush Katie, you’re perfect and don’t ever say otherwise. Now, go back to sleep and we’ll talk tomorrow. Don’t worry; I’ll stay here with you. I won’t let the bad dreams come back. I promise.”
Kate examined her mother closely and after a long moment gave her a resigned expression. Her eyes told Darlene everything. Kate believed her mother was only placating her and didn’t believe her vision about Cori. Frowning, Kate turned away and crawled back under her comforter. “Ok Mom, I love you.”
“I love you too, Katie. I’ll make things right, you have nothing to fear.”