Getting out of the city

The next morning Emma woke up in a groggy and confused state. The memory of the disturbing dream didn't feel as sharp and real as the night before, but remembering the pressure of those scaly golden coils of the dragon made her uneasy. The dream had felt too real. She supposed it was a manifestation of her current stressful situation.

Growing up, Emma had occasionally had such weird and vivid dreams, but she had always attributed it to an overactive imagination. She dreamt of all sorts of places and scenarios, quite different from the usual 'dreamt about oversleeping before an exam' or 'suddenly naked in front of the a bunch of people' dreams that other people had. Instead Emma dreamt of running across the rooftops in an ancient city, walking through a sea of flames, or wondering in magical forests. Her favourite dream that recurring dream was of her being a great white bird flying between windswept mountain peaks over a lush valley. That dream always made her feel wonderfully elated, but also caused her heart to ache with an indescribable longing. She supposed the fantastical dreams were her subconscious's way of escaping her often troubled life.

Emma decided to push the weird dream to the back of her mind for the moment. Sitting up in bed, she felt the sharp jab of pain in her head. Her body felt exhausted, almost like she hadn't slept at all. Even after taking a quick shower, her head was hurting so badly that she felt obliged to take a painkiller.

As today was not a working day, she had originally planned to study for an upcoming test for nursing school, but in her current condition she decided against it. Even if she had felt more refreshed, her thoughts kept returning to her dilemma. What she needed today was something to clear her head. The issue about what to do about Mr. Long was pressing, but after all she still had a few days to come up with a solution. Furthermore, she thought getting an second perspective would be helpful.

Other people would consult family or close friends in such a situation. Emma had severed all ties with her family and although she had some friends from school, they were not close friends. However, Emma had one person she trusted, one person she could ask for advice about anything. She felt like seeing that person was the only thing that could calm her down at the moment.

Emma wasted no time in packing a bag. Then, she headed to the train station, boarding a train that would take her out of the city. As soon as she saw fields and forest whipping past the window she felt the knot of anxiety that had been pressing in her chest lifting somewhat. Additionally, knowing that she would soon be able to share her troubles with another person helped calm her down.

As she disembarked from the train, she drew a deep breath of the fresh air. It smelt of earth, flowers and herbs. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she zigzagged through the crowd of tourists eagerly taking photos of the surroundings and headed towards a narrow road winding its way up a hill towards a little village nestled beautifully between the foothills of a mountain. The fresher air of the countryside invigorated her, and added a spring to her step. Soon the rustling of leaves and twittering of bird had lifted her spirits considerably.

This was always Emma's way. She had an extraordinary ability to appreciate the happiness to be found in the moment, and not to let sad or difficult situations affect her spirit too much. She learned from each difficult experience, but she never dwell unnecessarily on the painful parts of her past. Obsessing over things she couldn't control was just waisted time and energy. It was better to focus on the road ahead, and on what she could change about her destiny. Now every step and breath gave her renewed determination and hope, gradually removing the despair of last night.

As she drew closer to the centre of the village it became more bustling. There were little shops selling trinkets and various hand crafted items. People called out greeting to Emma, and she answered back with waves and smiles. The locals knew her well, as she often came here, and she was treated by them almost a local herself. These simple social interactions warmed her heart and further lifted her spirits. Her childhood had been full of schemes, manipulation, and backstabbing. She loved the straightforward and honest way the locals here treated each other. They also had their conflicts and squabbles, but they also looked out for each other.