“Angelina! Angelina! Angelina!” a familiar voice urged.
She shot her eyes wide open with a gasp and found Jeff looming over her.
“You’re up” he said sounding relieved‚ pulling her in for a hug. “It was just a dream” he whispered softly into her ear.
Angelina was still panting‚ scared and sweaty‚ and Jeff continued stroking her back in a comforting way.
Eventually‚ as she laid in his arms‚ her heart beat returned to a steady rhythm and she fell asleep once again.
When she woke up again‚ she found her mother and Mark in her room sitting next to her bed. Her eyes searched the room for Jeff‚ but he wasn’t there.
Was Jeff in her dream?
Or was he back?
“….Jeff…” was all she could say
Her series of questions were interrupted when Jeff came into the room with a glass of water in his hand.
He was really here‚ she didn’t see him in her dream.
She was relieved and excited to see him again after a long time.
Angelina immediately got out of bed and rushed to hug him “When did you return?” she asked tightening her arms around him.
“I arrived here at noon… your mum told me you were asleep by the time I got here.” Jeff stopped talking and handed the glass of water to Mark. He wanted to hug her back. “She also told me what happened this morning” he added.
“Are you hungry?” Jeff asked
“Please say you are‚ your mum just made lunch and I'm starving” Mark said. Everyone thought he was joking‚ but his facial expression said otherwise.
“Yes I am” Angelina replied smiling
“Alright then…. Jeff‚ please come with me.” Angelina’s mother said rising from her seat.
“Yes ma’am” and Jeff followed Angelina’s mother out of the room.
“How are you feeling now?” Mark asked as soon as Jeff and her mother left the room. “Did you see him again?”
“Yes”
“Well‚ Who is he?” he asked curiously
“My mum told me he was…” Angelina shuddered before she continued “…my father” she said sounding disappointed.
Jeff and Angelina’s mother walked into the room with lunch and some drinks to wash the food down.
“I’ll be back…. I need to go get some groceries and pick your father up from work.” Angelina’s mother informed before leaving room
*********************
1995