The Background - Before it all changed
Light flashes across the sky, dancing between the clouds as if it were playing a game of hide and seek. Eerie shadows forming and disappearing, on the ground and in the sky, a storm unlike anything previously experienced, and with thunder claps piercingly loud matching the sharp lightning.
"Wow, what's going on?" Rita thought.
The flashes becoming brighter. The clashes grow louder. A rumbling beneath Rita's feet as she tries to move in the direction of home. Cracks appearing in the pavement making a challenge to walk without looking down. Her pace quickening to a jog and run as the intensity of the situation grows. Although this had all the hallmarks of a storm, there was no rain, hail, or snow.
"Where is everybody?"
Running at a quickening pace in the direction of her home, Rita continues, yet is unable to move forward. Her legs are running forward, the movement is not aligned with her effort. Like a diminishing hallway, she is running down a path that is ever escaping her.
"Why can't I run fast?!" she exclaimed. Pushing herself to move faster, desperately trying to get safely home.
Using trees and lamp posts as leverage to push forward, while the path appears to be running backwards, Rita was unable to move ahead and started to panic.
Exhausted she stopped. Propped against a fence for a moment, watching the skies light up. The clouds were rolling like waves, lightning flashing blue and green bright colours across the sky.
From the horizon, a bright light. Like a sunrise, only pure white - and faster moving. Startled and also mesmerised, Rita was absorbed watching this like as it rose above the skyline higher, brighter, blinding.
The white light envelopes all and is blinding, Rita looks away, suddenly she falls, screaming out for help and trying to see where she is falling into a bright light abyss.
"Rita. Rita, darling. It's ok, I'm here."
With a jolt, Rita opened her eyes to the comfort of her mother. She blinked, wiped her eyes, looked around.
"My Room! What about the storm, and the light?"
"What storm darling? Another bad dream? Oh no. Come here."
Rita's mother, Heather, embraced and comforted her. Rita's racing heart began to settle. The dream was so vivid for Rita and had been occurring often lately, each time she ventures further and further toward the light, yet doesn't reach it.
"Mum, it was the storm again. Lightning, crackling, the bright light over the city. It was scary, I couldn't get home to you and Dad. I don't know why it's happening?"
"Sounds terrible sweety, but it was just a dream. You are safe, Dad and I are here. In fact, we have breakfast ready for you when you're ready."
"Ok. I'll just be a minute and I'll be out. Thank you."
Rita's Mum gave her a warm and reassuring smile before leaving her room for the kitchen.
The breakfast table was a wash of bright sunlight beaming through the large glass windows, another beautiful day had begun. Birds singing in the garden and the smell Rita's favorite breakfast - eggs in a hole, coming from the kitchen.
Rita's father Brian loved to cook. He would often regale family and guests with the history of his dishes.
"Did you know, the egg in a hole, or egg in a basket and a number of other titles, goes back to the early 1900's, and was used in a number of movies under various names. And it's so simple to make, just..."
"Yes Dad, thanks for the updates. As long as this isn't an egg from back then, I would rather it fresh." Rita giggled, cutting her father off mid story.
With breakfast finished, Rita turned her mind to the day ahead at school and started getting ready.
"Hey, are you guys finishing early today?"
"Sorry love, Dad and I have a big day today. Can you can go to Bonny's and we'll pick you up there about 5:30. Ok?"
"No worries." Rita grabbed her bag and waited outside taking in the beauty of the day. Clear skies, beautiful sunshine, birds singing, it was just perfect.
Driving toward Rita's school, the family chatted about plans of a holiday together, and trying to reduce work in order to spend more time camping and hiking.
"It's about time Brian, we've worked hard for so long. So what if we're not 'that old' yet, why do we have to wait? Why can't we take some time to disappear with Rita?"
"It's not that honey, it's just..."
"Just what then Dad? I'd love more time with you two."
"It's just not that easy darling, there is a lot going on at work, it's hard to cut back when we have such big projects, and, well, I'm not sure how they will take it if we want to stop now." Brian explained, while giving Heather a look that held a bit of fear. She understood what he meant. They had grown together and learnt to communicate well, even without spoken word.
"Yeah, you're right Brian. Well, can't stop me dreaming. Maybe one day." she laughed, trying to make light of a heavy situation.
Arriving at Rita's school, Rita saw Bonny, her best friend, standing nearby and smiled.
"Have a great day beautiful, see you tonight at Bonny's." said mum
"Will do, you too, have a safe day. Love you Mum, Love you Dad."
"Actually darling, You're right. How about we go camping this weekend? We should be able to finish mid afternoon Friday and be able to go that day. How does that sound?" Rita's Dad asked.
"You mean it Dad? Really? That would be great! Thanks Dad, I can't wait!"
A beaming smile on Rita's face said it all. And with that, Rita got out of the car and ran toward Bonny. A few meters away though, she stopped and turned back to the family car, to see it still there, her parents smiling and waving at her. She waved back and blew a kiss, something she usually did though today felt different.
Maybe it was the remnants of the bad dream? Maybe the excitement of the camping trip? Unsure, Rita dismissed the concern and gave her parents a loving smile and blew kisses, before skipping over to Bonny and into School.
Bonny's arm hooked through Rita's as they skipped side by side along the path. At the same time, Rita's parents drove from the school driveway discussing plans for the camping trip.