He knew he was dreaming because it was a lucid vision without easily definable boundaries. The world he was in was less defined than reality, with splotchy, blurred edges and a gray cast view. He was walking, somewhere, but he knew not where the path would lead. Looking all around him, he was alone, truly alone. He panicked and called out for Grace, yet after several attempts, the little genie never showed up. Was she gone forever?

"Stephen?"

He looked all around, hearing the booming voice reverberate throughout the entire dream world he inhabited. It was like a voice from the heavens calling out for him, and commanding his attention. Perhaps this really was the afterlife?

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

"h.e.l.lo?" He asked out loud.

"Stephen?" The voice boomed once more. He found himself being sucked out of dreamworld. The path quickly disintegrated as did the blurred edges of the land around him. His dream was now gone, and Stephen awoke on the floor, feeling the smooth carpet against the rest of his body.

"Stephen, can you hear me?" The voice asked one more time. He couldn't place it just yet, but his eyes were still closed. Was it his mother? Did she find him after all the events of the day? His heart dipped while remembering the last look on Grace's face. The look of abject terror. Perhaps the last look he'd ever see of her.

Realizing he'd have to open his eyes sooner than later, he creaked open one eyelid, letting in the late afternoon sun as it illuminated his former room. His hand drifted naturally to his head, covering his eyes from the sudden onrush of light, and he was forced to close them again.

"Too bright," he murmured, while s.h.i.+fting around to his side.

He heard a giggle off to his right, a familiar noise, and one sound he had been longing to hear. There was a hand on his chest, and another holding his free hand at his side. Having spent the last two months hearing that giggle daily, he knew instantly who it belonged to.