NIGHTMARE

CHRISTABELLA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR

[LONDON]

SOBS

SOBS

"Everything is going to be okay, Bella" Mia pulled her best friend and gave her a tight hug. She couldn't bear to watch her break down, Bella has always been more of a friend to her, regardless of how people treated her. Bella was way different from them; she wasn't a pretender.

Since mia was rich, people would cling to her, in the name of friendship but all they wanted was her money.

Mia felt unsecured, all she ever wanted was a real friend who wasn't after what she had, a friend who would love her for who she was. And there she found Christabella.

SOBS

"I miss you mum, why did you leave me?" Mia held onto her best friend as she soothingly caressed her hair, to comfort her.

[EARLY IN THE MORNING]

There was a dark ambiance in the room, the sun had risen in full folds. Unlike other days; moderate and invigorating, full of songbirds, chirping and chattering on the rooftop.

That morning felt somehow strange to Bella, even deep in her sleep; she couldn't help seeing nightmares.

Audible Scream sprang in her room.

"Mummy. . . . . . ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Bella screamed on top of her voice, as she quickly sat up on her bed. The whole of her body was dripping sweat, her eyes broadened with fear and her heart was beating fast.

Inside her dream, she had seen her mother drowning in the ocean as she called for her help. But Bella couldn't do a thing she watched her mother immersing. She was afraid, she had read in an article that, morning nightmares, often appear to be true.

To get rid of the strange feeling, Bella squeezed her eyes shut, drew in a long breathe, and murmured silently: " You should focus Bella, It's only, just a nightmare". She said to herself, but still, having done so didn't change a thing: Her leg and hands trembled, she felt restless like she was going to burst out in tears.

Out of curiosity, Bella walked to her mother's room, she let out a wide smile, when she saw her mother sleeping.

"It's 7:00 am and yet you're sleeping?" She said as she walked towards the window and drew the curtains open.

Bella sighed. "You keep on nagging me mom, now it's my turn". Bella thought to herself as she neared her. She pulled the torn blanket off her body and tried to tickle her.

Shocked and dumbfound, Bella felt that her mother's body had turned cold, with no signs of heartbeat, or any word from her mouth. The only word that stuck on Bella's lips and couldn't come out was' DEAD'. She was gone, snatched from the world, and her. The thought of it, terrified her.

Bella couldn't believe, that what she had seen in her dream was a fact, that her mother was going to disappear and never reappear again.

Nonplused, Bella curled in the corner of the room, watching her mother's body partly covered by green shit. She recalled green was her favorite color, her room resembled a garden, few of her clothes were also green. Bella smiled and at the same time cried as the painful memories drifted on her mind.

She laid her chin on her knees and continued to sob.

Without blinking or moving. She remained in that position until Mia her best friend, who she had given a buzz walked into the room.

ONE WEEK LATER,

It has been one week since Bella's mother had passed away, Mia had cared for Bella to shirk the past and move on.

She'd always protect her friend regardless of the situation and constantly make her laugh whenever she was unhappy.

" So, what's your plan today?" Mia asked Bella as soon as their afternoon classes had ended.

"Uhhm. . .am planning to repair the roof today," Bella responded to her question, with a slight smile escaping from her lips.

"How are you gonna do that? You don't even know how to use the hammer let alone hold it." Mia laughed out aloud, probably teasing, Bella. The moment she met up with Bella's eyes, she quickly covered her mouth with her palm, to prevent sound from escaping her mouth.

Mia knew for a fact that Bella was getting irritated, and anytime she would erupt. She had to do something, about it, to at least calm her bestie down.

"Pfft, I was joking, bestie I hope you did not take it seriously, besides, anyone can be a roofer" she paused then continued. "Anyone but you. . ."

when that was said, Mia ran faster as Bella quickly followed her behind.

"You're so rude, Mia, "Bella shouted as she chased after mia.

After a long chase, Bella decided to give up, she was getting tired, she sat down, as she filled in her face with her palm.

Worried, Mia shortly walked towards her, she thought that her friend was unhappy when she reached to her, she tried to calm her down, but only to find herself in Bella's trap.

" That's not fair, Bella you tricked me," Mia declared while laughing out rambunctious because Bella tingled her belly.

"What did you say? I can't be a roofer?. . ." Bella tickled mia until she ratified defeat.

"Okay. . .you win," Mia said with a cracking voice since her throat was dry and sore of laughter.

After a few seconds, they both fell onto each other's embrace.

"I love you, Bella."

"I love you too, Mia."

Bella, quickly headed home soon after Mia had left. He arrived, at her stranded house, took a warm shower, put on her attire then headed to find the lander to climb on the rooftop.

Determined, she drew in a long breath then climbed the ladder. She was terrified of the height, nonetheless, she chose to climb because she did not have another option. The clouds had already turned black and she knew that soon it was going to pour heavily.

Through a neighbors window, someone peeped through and let out a wide smile. Probably because the person had never seen a woman who is a roofer before. The figure sipped in the cup of tea and walked away.

On the rooftop, Bella tried to convince herself that she can do it. Then she laughed at what Mia had told her, she knew that she needed to do this to prove to mia, that she was a better roofer. But when she was about to knock on the nail, the hammer bounced back and instead hit Bella on the forehead. The sudden pain, made her lose balance and she fell to the ground and fell unconscious.