Lost between reality

Moments later, I blinked my eyes slowly opened to find myself all alone in a place that felt so unreal and was all white. It seemed too perfect, giving me a warm feeling opposite to what I felt at the pool I had just been drowning in. There was no sound of splashing water, no icy cold feeling and I wasn't scared. in-fact I felt like I was in my comfort zone, save from the rest of the world. It was as if I had entered a different dimension entirely.

My heart still raced, and confusion swept over me as I tried to comprehend where I was.

As I looked at my surroundings which were in complete silence, I could hear my heart beat and clearly hear my inner thoughts. The ground under my feet was also white and soft, the air smelt fresh and warm.

In the distance, I spotted a figure, it was far so I couldn't point out what it was but as I stepped further, the figure turned to that of a little girl. She stood wearing a kid's size bathing suit, pink with flower patterns. her back turned to me so I couldn't figure out what she looked like, she seemed to be dripping wet, from her wet hair to her toes and I couldn't help but wonder if she had been in the same pool I had fallen into moments ago.

For an unknown reason I felt drawn to her, curiosity pulled me towards her. With every step I felt the world around me shift.

"Hello," I called out as I approached the girl.

She didn't respond but I could feel she was aware of my presence. I took a few more steps until I was close enough to touch her and I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

The little girl turned to face me, and as our eyes met, mine widened in disbelief, a gasp escaped my lips. Her name slipped out like a long forgotten memory.

"Posy?" In a questioning yet confused tone.

She smiled with a bittersweet expression on her face, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"You have to go back," she said in low whispers and began to move away from me.

"Posy wait!" I called out, desperation laced in my voice

The world around me slowly started to crumble and what was all white slowly started to fade away. Then the ground below her opened, filled with water and in an instant she fell in.

I gasped for air, water spitting out my mouth. My eyes snapped open and I found myself lying on the hard wet floor. My heart was still pounding, my mind distorted and my vision blurry.

"Posy!" I yelled out my eyes searching around when I felt a grip around me.

I was startled at first, my eyes fell on the guy standing over me, his clothes wet and water dripping down his face. He must have jumped in to save me but at this point I didn't know if I should be grateful or not. I immediately recognized him.

"Owen?" I called, my voice shaking and desperate.

"Posy, I saw her…where is she?"

Owen's quiet gaze softened but he wore a confused look, his hands gently placed one mine. "You need to calm down," he said.

"No!" I shook my head repeatedly, my hands pulling my hair and hitting my face aggressively catching Owen off guard. "Where is she! I saw her, I know what I saw!" Tears ran down my cheek, the grip pulling my hair tighten and I didn't care about my wet clothes.

"Look at me," Owen grabbed both my arms to stop me from hurting myself any further. I continuously shook my head to each side, my gaze avoiding his as more tears streamed down. I felt his cold wet hand on my cheek, he gently held onto my face and shifted my gaze to fall directly on his. "There is no one else here…look at me" he tried to calm me down but I still insisted

"But I saw her…posy was here she was right here." My mind still relived the encounter, I remember clearly everything that had happened. It wasn't a dream, was it?

Employees at the restaurant who were also at the scene rushed towards me wrapping a dry towel around me to keep me warm. Owen wrapped himself around me, trying his best to calm me down.

"It's okay, everything is fine." His hand slipped down my back In gentle pats.

"She was here," I said in low whispers and watched as his hands brushed my hair, I could feel his hot breath on my neck. My heart beat becoming steady, I stretched my hands wrapping it around him as I tried to calm myself down. We remained like that in total silence for a few minutes and watched as my breathing became normal paced.

"Call the ambulance," I heard someone say, my hands slipped off Owens' back and In panic I pushed him backwards breaking us free.

"No!" I yelled, my gaze narrowed at the lady with a cellphone. "don't call the ambulance" I said, shaking my head. Involving the police increases the chances of my parents finding out I lied and that was the last thing I wanted.

"Are you sure? You must have hit your head pretty bad." Owen attempted to feel my forehead but his hand paused when he noticed my head slightly tilting back.

"Am fine, I don't need help" I said trying to get up on my feet. "Am not even supposed to be here" I muttered. My gaze shifted to the floor, glancing through the grass and hard concrete.

"That thief!" My hand rubbed my forehead, which was lowered facing my feet and a frustrated sigh escaped my lips. My purse was not in sight and the worst was my phone that I held in my other hand was also missing. I knew the thief didn't run off with it like he did with my purse, this left no other option than it falling with me in the pool. There was no point even trying to find it, my phone would have already been destroyed, it wasn't waterproof like those expensive phones and I had just got it only recently as a gift from my dad. This made me panicked, the thought of explaining this to my dad, he would be so disappointed.

"What theif?" Owen asked, noticing me in distress, he was handed a towel by another staff member and was trying to dry himself. I stared at him realising that no one was present when I was robbed and it happened so fast.

"I was robbed, my purse was stolen." My hands clutched the towel around me closer. I watched as Owen's blue eyes widened for a quick moment before returning to his neutral face.

"That's more reason you should involve the cops." He suggested.

"I don't need help!" I protested, raising my voice louder than expected. Like a whoosh of wind, my sight became blurry causing me to lose my balance. I twisted my foot against each other and my body shifted to the right but Owen swiftly caught me on time by the arm and he helped me back on my feet. staring at me intensely, he said.

"You are clearly not okay, at least let me take you to the hospital to be checked by a professional."

"Am fine." I pushed his hands off mine. "I don't need help from people like you guys" I turned to the two employees who had been quiet the whole time. "Can I use your cellphone?" I pleaded.

"No you can't," Came Owen's repond.

"I don't remember asking you," I mix of anger and frustration laced with my voice as I spoke even at my state. I didn't even know why I was angry with him, he had just saved my life but the thought of Jake fueled my anger.

He placed his towel over his head wiping his wet hair, then his gaze shifted to mine. "This restaurant belongs to my mother. So in a way it belongs to me and you don't need my help, remember?" he said, taking a step forward.

My eyes widened and my fist clenched at my side.

"Fine," I muttered walking past him.

I was still feeling dizzy and my feet were weak, I didn't know how to contact my parents and also didn't have any money on me yet I was being stubborn and would rather walk all the way home in my cold wet clothes than swallow my pride and accept his help.

I heard a sigh and felt his hand holding mine. "What are you doing?" I asked, his towel now around his neck.

"I am taking you home," he said, pulling me with him.

"I said I don't want your help," I protested once more, swinging my arm to break free but his grip tightened around my wrist and he paused to look at me.

"I'm not asking you if you need my help, this restaurant belongs to my parents. Any incident that happens here is our responsibility,look at my act as compensation for the incident."