“Mama…, Mama… Mama…,” Lora called, running after her mum Camila who is leaving the mansion with her suit case.

　　“Mama please don’t leave me.” She pleaded, still running after her. “Take me with you, Mama…” she kept on calling and crying at the same time still running after her.

　　“I’ll come back for you my darling.” Camila told Lora as she turned her head briefly to look at her, still moving. “I’ll come back baby, I promise…” she said still moving. Suddenly, Lora found herself alone in the mansion with a masked man chasing her holding a gun in his hands.

　　“Mama…, please help me.” Lora screamed, she ran to the front door and started banging her hands at the door. “Mama… help, please help me Mama….” She screamed…

　　Lora opened her eyes, her heart racing; she could feel sweat all over her body like one who had run a marathon, she folded her knees and curled herself into a sitting position on the bed.

　　She looked around the dimly lit bedroom but couldn’t see clearly, so she hurriedly switched on the lamp that was sitting on the table beside her bed, her both hands trembling with fear.

　　“This dream again?”She thought. This dream has always hunted her since her mum left her. She was only seven when her mum left and promised to come back for her, years have passed and she is still waiting for her.

　　Sometimes she wonders if it will ever happen. She sat still for a while pondering about the dream.

　　The one thing she can’t explain is the masked man who suddenly chased her with a gun in her dream. “Well it’s just a dream.” She thought after a while and shook her head.

　　“I wonder why Mama left, Papa seem to miss her.” She thought again as her mind drifted from the dream back to the time when her mum left.

　　That day her dad had gone to work, even Grandma Rosa wasn’t at home. Her mum came into the mansion in a hurry, went into her room; the next thing she saw her mum come out of her room with a suit case in her hands and hurriedly left the mansion, ignoring her plea to take her along; she only promised she would come back for her but never did till date, even her dad locked himself up in his study refusing to see anyone for weeks after she left. She shook her head again, and then robbed her hands over her face.

　　Her mind drifted again to what had happened on her sixteenth birthday, her mum had promised to come for her that day but still did not keep to her promise as well. “Why did she not meet me on my sixteenth birthday as promised, she was only a few steps away, then stopped suddenly and left without a word.” She thought and robbed her eyes again.

　　Her mum stopped calling her after that day, she’s been the one calling her and whenever she manages to answer, she tells her she’s been busy that’s why she haven’t been able to call and she always finds a reason to drop the call almost immediately. “I hope she calls me today.” Lora said out loud this time.

　　She looked at the clock sitting on her bed side table, it’s past 6am. “I won’t let these thoughts ruin my day today.” She said as she shook her head, got out of bed and went into the bathroom.

　　***

　　Catalina stood at the bus stop waiting impatiently for Lora, she watched as so many cars drove past her, different people who seemed busy to her went on their way, some also stood at the bus stop probably waiting for a bus. “I hope she is not backing out now.” She said to herself as she glanced at her wrist watch again.

　　Lora had always backed out at the last minute every time she invited her for a party, whether it’s a school party or not she would always find a reason not to attend at the very last minute, but she hopes she doesn’t back out on this one because this is going to be their last school party.

　　“We are going to be late.” She said and dialed Lora’s number again for the fourth time. “Hello Lora, where are you? Hurry up or we are going to miss the bus and we are going to be late for the party.” She said, making a fuss over the phone.

　　“Calm down party girl, and look behind you.” Lora said over the phone. Immediately, Catalina turned around. “There you are, hurry up.” She said still on the phone raising her hands up and waving at Lora urging her to hurry up.

　　Lora increased her pace towards Catalina, they reached out and hugged each other. “Wow! You are looking fabulous Catalina, all this for just a school party?” Lora said looking at Catalina’s outfit in admiration. Catalina had been the only friend she has in school and at home, she loves parties and is always excited when she has to attend one.

　　“Yes.” Catalina replied as she jiggled. “And it’s not just a school party, it’s our graduation party you know, so I have to look my best.” She added still jiggling.

　　“Well if you are all dolled up just for a school graduation party, I wonder how you would look at your own wedding.” Lora said teasingly.

　　“I would look like the stars.” Catalina whispered into her ears and they both chuckled with laughter.

　　Suddenly Catalina paused for a while, her eyes scrutinizing Lora. “What are you wearing?” Catalina asked as she looked at her from head to toe, shaking her head and making a face of disapproval.

　　“Don’t give me that look Catalina? It’s just a school party.” Lora said. “Besides I’m not like you, and I feel very comfortable in these clothes.” She added in self defense.

　　“No, it’s our graduation party and many handsome guys are going to be there, how do you intend to get their attention dressed like this?” Catalina asked waving her hands at Lora. “Unbelievable girl, your parents are rich and your mum is a fashion star for Christ’s sake.” She added still shaking her head in disapproval.

　　“Stop it Catalina, my parents are rich so what! And I’m not my mum you know, am not going there to seek the attention of anybody, besides I have Alfredo.” Lora snapped, her voice a little high that some people passing by stopped to look at her for a brief moment then went on with their activities, even those standing at the bus stop gave her a quick stare. She shook her head and bit her lower lip, feeling a little embarrassed.

　　“Wake up girl, you still believe you’ll have a happy ending with Alfredo?” Catalina asked ignoring what just happened or how embarrassed Lora might feel. “He’s way out of your league, you know.” She added.

　　“Oh the bus is here!” Lora said, pointing at the bus, ignoring her statement as she knows it won’t change a thing arguing with her, she’s already embarrassed as it is and she wonders if Catalina feels nothing at all on peoples opinion about her.

　　***

　　“Lora baby, princess, come to Mama…” Camila said to a little girl of about seven years of age sitting across the room with her eyes wide open, looking at her.

　　“Princess, come to Mama…” She said again to a motionless girl sitting across the room staring at her. Suddenly the girls face turned into a dark beard man who started laughing hysterically. “No, no, no…” she shouted, covering her ears with her hands…

　　Miguel jumped up from his sleep at the sound of Camila’s voice. “What is it my love?” he said as he shook Camila who is trembling beside him mumbling something in her sleep, he shook her body again waking her up from her sleep.

　　“What is it my love?” he asked again, this time taking her into his arms. It looked like she had a terrible dream; her whole body is trembling in fear.

　　“It’s the dream again, the god damn dream again.” Camila said as she covered her face with her palms still in Miguel’s arms. “My baby Miguel, how do I face my baby?” Camila asked shaking vehemently at the thought of the dream she just had.

　　“Hush now my love, hush now.” Miguel said, patting her back slowly. Miguel Ramos is her boyfriend and also her lawyer who she spends some nights with either at his place or her place or probably anywhere else.

　　She met him few months after divorcing her husband Lucio Affonso, Lora’s dad. Miguel was the son of Late Alejandro Ramos, her family’s trusted lawyer who had found her in the orphanage where she was raised when she had returned there after her divorce with her husband Lucio, and brought her to her parent’s house which changed and made her life what it is today.

　　A year after bringing her to her father’s house Alejandro died. Camila and Miguel has been each other’s companion since they are both orphans and Camila look up to him as family, her only remaining wish is to be reunited with her daughter Lora.

　　“She hates me Miguel, my daughter hates me, Miguel, am a terrible mum.” She said as she burst into tears.

　　“No, no my love, you’re not a terrible mum, hush now, it’s only a dream and everything will be all right.” Miguel said still holding Camila in his arms.