Was it a dream?

Tara woke up with a bang in her head. She stretched from her side of the bed expecting to make contact with Lakan who she expected to be sleeping since he always kept late at night. Her hands wandered freely as she made no contact. She opened her eyes slowly to see when she realized the room wasn't the one she was expecting. Yes, it was familiar but it was not what she was expecting. Why was their room flowing with the purple color everywhere? It reminded her of her room in her father's house.

"Wait, this is my father's house? She asked herself picking herself quickly from the bed. Immediately after her feet touched the ground past events began to play in her mind slowly. Flashes of the dead bodies came into her mind and she wasted no time in dashing out of her room to confirm things for herself with tears in her eyes

" Did the Blackwaters bring her to her father's house after killing her" she questioned herself as she made her way downstairs

The voices of people laughing made her stop in her track. For a brief moment, she thought the Blackwaters were in the living room having fun. But then there was something about one particular laugher she was hearing. It was that of her mother, it always sounded musical in her ears so she could never mistake it.

With increased nervousness, she took careful steps into the living not sure what she will see.

"Here comes the bride-to-be " her father shouted on seeing her as everyone turned in her direction with smiles on their faces. In the room were her father, mother, cousins, and a few of her friends. It was said they had all been waiting for her to wake.

At this stage, Tara became very confused she could barely respond to the cheers from everyone in the living room. Memories of the death of her parents and other family members became clear in her mind but why was she seeing the same people alive and happy before her?

" Am I dreaming? Is this real? She questioned aloud in the hearing of everyone who paused briefly as they wondered why she was acting so surprised.

One of her friends Sharon suddenly broke into laughter and everyone joined her immediately

" No, my dear you are not dreaming this is hundred percent real you are getting married tomorrow " Sharon informed her in-between laughter everyone joined her in the laughter as they seem to mock her thinking she was still yet to believe she was getting married.

Tara's countenance didn't change one bit. Everything was not making sense to her. Just last night she had cried her heart thinking every member of her family was dead but now they were right before acting like nothing happened. Her mother walked up to her with a worried look on her face. She was the only one who noticed she Tara was acting beyond what everyone was thinking.

Tara stretched her hands to pull her mother into a hug to confirm that she was not dreaming or they were not ghosts

" What is happening? Her mother whispered into her ears knowing fully well she was not okay.

"I can't believe this is real, I can't believe you are real" Tara kept repeating as attempted to travel her hands over her mother to be sure

To others watching the scene, they thought she was being emotional about her coming marriage.

"What is happening? Her mother asked again looking a little bit more worried now.

" What day is today? She asked her mother for her to make a sound judgment.

"Today is the 26th of August 2018 a day to your big day" her mother replied with a broad smile playing across her face.

"What big day? She asked again

" Your wedding to Lakan from the Blackwaters family " her mother replied.

Tara's eyes began to spin when she heard those words. Her head began to bang and her heart rate increased immediately. Sweat appeared from nowhere on her face. It was just like an allergic reaction to something

No one was paying attention to her as they thought she was having a secret conversation with her mother.

Her mother held her by the hand and slowly dragged her back to her room against the protest of everyone in the sitting room who wanted to have a word with her.

Tara couldn't believe what was happening. She didn't even protest as her mother took him back to her room. All that was on her mind is how was it possible that she could be two years back and one day before her marriage.

"What is happening to you? Her mother asked looking at her carefully as she shot the door behind her.

" How is possible that you have suddenly forgotten that you will be getting married? No one is seeing it but I am seeing through you right now, are you planning to pull a drama on us? Her mother asked her voice mixed when anger and anxiety.

Tara kept quiet for while as she wondered how she will start his story. Right now she knew anything she says will sound absurd since the people she cried about are alive.

"I had a dream mum, a very terrible dream " Tara replied trying to convince herself that it was a dream although everything looked very real to her.

The anger in her mother was subdued as it was immediately replaced with anxiety

"What was the dream about? Her mother asked looking at her anxiously. she was amongst those people who believe strongly in dreams.

Tara slowly narrated everything to her mother not missing out on any detail. As she told the story she kept reminding herself that it was so real but no reasonable explanation.

Her mother kept quiet for a while after hearing the story. It wasn't what she was expecting at all. For someone who believed in dreams this was too much for her to take.

" Please mother we must call of this marriage" Tara pleaded falling to her knees. It was the best possible solution she could think of