1

Instantly, John was jolted awake. The sheets were soaked with sweat. His hands shook as he looked down certain that he would find them covered in blood. They were clean. He breathed a sigh of relief. It had been ten years since that night and not once had he slept through a night without seeing it.

Tonight was the anniversary of that night. John dreaded what he would have to do as the light switched on. His girlfriend of five years looked at him concerned. As she brushed her blonde hair away from her pale skin she spoke up.

"You had that dream again didn't you?" Her green eyes pleaded with his soft blue eyes.

"Yes, Harmony I did." He kissed her forehead.

"You know you can talk to me about it." She curled up in his arms.

"I'm sure I could. But it's nothing you have to worry yourself about." He replied as the alarm started to buzz.

"Guess it's time to get ready for work." She chuckled and rolled out of bed.

"But don't think you're getting out of this so easy." She headed for the bathroom.

"I wouldn't dream of it." He raised his voice to be heard over the rushing water.

She came out mouth foaming, still brushing her teeth as she spoke. "You're going to tell me all about it over dinner tonight."

"I can't tonight." He replied as he started getting dressed.

"Are you serious?" She shook the toothbrush at him and then went to rinse.

By the time Harmony came back from the bathroom John was already dressed. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her tenderly.

"You know it's that time of the year again. My little brother only comes to town once a year." He told her.

"Has it been another year already?" She pouted.

"Yes it has." He smiled. "You had better get dressed. Can't make the animals wait forever."

She nudged him playfully, "Come on now. I'm not that important."

"Oh yes you are." He nudged her toward the closet.

She gave up that argument and went into the closet. "So, is this the year I get to meet the little brother you never talk about?"

"I would have to say, probably not. He never stays long." He replied hoping she would drop it.

"You know for as long as we've been together, I don't know a thing about your life before you met me." She prodded on.

"That's because before you, there was no me." He grinned.

"That is such a cop out. You're lucky I can't afford to be late." She emerged from the closet dressed for work.

"One day I'm going to win the lottery and quit my job so I can follow my lovely boyfriend around everywhere." She joked.

"Then who would take care of all those poor strays as well as you do?" He pouted playfully.

"You're insufferable." She kissed him softly. "Will you at least call me tonight?"

"Of course I will, my love. Have a good day at work."

"Won't you just tell me something about this brother of yours before I go? After all, I lose a whole day to this stranger every year. It's only fair." She begged as she picked up her purse and keys.

"Oh alright," He smiled. "He's twenty-two years old and plays guitar for some band I can't suffer through listening to."

"No wonder you keep him a secret. God forbid I'd find him more interesting than you." She winked.

"That'll never happen." He laughed. "You had better get going." He kissed her one last time.

"I love you." She smiled.

"I love you too." He replied.

Harmony climbed into the seat of her dusty grey jeep and waved good bye as she pulled out of the driveway. John waved back and closed himself inside. He still had a few hours before his brother James' flight landed so he made himself some coffee and sat down to watch the morning news.

For a while John just sat there dreading the drive to his family estate by the bay. It never made him feel like home since the death of his parents. He recalled being thankful when they had been thrown into foster care. James had never forgiven him for that and he had taken it upon himself to become the hell child that would make their parents roll over in their graves.

When he had been released from foster care, John moved on to manage the family assets. He had met Harmony a year after that falling instantly in love with her. If he hadn't been so fearful of his past catching up with him he probably would have married her by now. For five years they had lived together in her house content on the life they had together.

Harmony was a beautiful, simple young woman. By age twenty three she had confessed a love for animals and gone into a rescue program as a founding leader and veterinarian. With John's large donation every year, she had found homes for every animal that entered her shelter giving rise to the no death policy. She didn't know it was his money or that he had left it all to her should something happen to him. His secret stayed intact.