My name's Claire Romano, i just turned 17. I am a highshool student at Gem's High.

It's just me and my mom at our house. My dad left us when i was 3 years old and never came back.

At home, i'm always alone, no pets, no siblings, and no friends. My mom is always out from morning to night because of her work, i don't blame her for that, she work hard so we can have food on our table, and a secure future.

Friday, 4: 43 p.m. I arrived at home. The same usual afternoon for me, nothing change, nothing will ever change.

I went to my room, and without even knowing i fell asleep. I open my eyes to this world i don't know. A world that i visually imagined inside my mind at class.

*gasp "Am i dreaming?" I ask myself. "How would i know if this is a dream?" I added. My eyes wander around the place.

"If this s a dream... i don't want to wake up anymore" I said to myself.

I walk around the place. The trees were colorful, the river's glowing and sparkling, the sky is so beautiful. Animals freely running around...

There, i thought that was my sanctuary, my escape room itself, a gift from the above so that i can live out of stress from the reality.

...

Monday, 6:00 a.m.

I open my eyes by the sound of my alarm clock ringing. I stare blankly at the ceiling, recalling the dreams i had.

Then that moment is broken by my mom's voice. "Claire, darling? it's monday, time for school dear, i already prepared the breakfast, come down after you're ready" Mom shouts from the stairs.

*Sigh 'Already monday? did i just wak up this day?' I said to myself. Wondering what mght've happen those past days, i jolted out from my bed and head to the bathroom.

I am heading straight to the toilet, as i passed the mirror it made me stop for a second and step back.

"Look at that face... could there be anyone that looks worst than thihs?" I ask myself, talking to my reflection.

I look at my reflection intensely. My face looks pale as ever, my lips were chapped and white, my under eyes were worst.

I twist the faucet and began washhing my face. It didn't look any better than before.

"As expected" i said.

...

"Oh, look at that face... i thought midterm's done? what's this another night-owl for?" My mom aske , sipping the tea from her favorite cup.

"Did you not came home last 2 days?" I ask, as i pull the chair out from the table and sits.

"Ahh.. about that, i'm sorry i couldn't make it home last 2 days, i was just so busy at work" Mom said.

"It's okay, i understand you" I said.

"Mom? i had a long dream last three nights" I said, biting a mouth-full bread in one-go.

"That's nice my dear. Dreams are supposed to make us feel happy and nice and motivated maybe" She said. Washing her cup at the sink.

Are dreams really there to make you happy?

That was the first dream i had that until no, i can recall. The vividness still lingers inside my brain, like a movie i've watched for several times. It's still there...

While on my way to the school, i keep replaying those moments inside my brain. It made me smile, some people thought i might be crazy or something, but it doesn't matter anymore to me.

I put my ear phones on my ear, as if listening to a song. Walk my way to the school, and just for a second as i arrive. Reality starts to sink in to me.

"I'm finally at my reality..." I whisper to myself, clenching both of the straps of my bag. I once again head into that reality.

This day, i am somehow eager, eager to finish the day, eager to go home, and finally sleep. I thought maybe i could have that dream again.

My name's Claire Romano, i am 17 years old, and my life turned out to be a mess.

"I'm really sorry, but Mr. and Mrs. Romano gave up their lives. Condolence."

Those words kept ringing inside my head. The thought that i am now an orphan at this age is so devastating... but what's worst?, my parents just adopted a newborn baby boy.

"Well you see, you soon will be on your legal age, you can find a job or a way of living at that age, so i know you can take care your brother"

"I just lost my parents... i have nowhere to go, i am jobless, i have no money, my parents didn't left anything to me.... tell me, how am i supposed to raise a child? when technically i too, am a child? i need my parents, i'm grieving!" I said.

"You don't have to worry about that, your family's lawyer has your parents last Will. You can have what's inside that Will only after you turn 18, and until then please live together with your brother"

Those were the words from the manager of the Welfare orphanage. i turn my head to see my brother at the side, idly sleeping.

"I'm sorry, if you have to live with me, child" I whisper to him.

I pick the child from it''s crib and went on my way...

*Sigh "Where am i supposed to go now?" I ask myself as i walk out of the building.

Walking down the streets, people keep staring at me. In their eyes, i'm a runaway, homeless, teenage mom. Pity and gross were engrave in their eyes.

After those few days i learn to pick myself up and i plan to make some money at the street by singing.

Pick up my guitar and the baby. I went to the busiest street in town and began singing there. People gather around me, clapping their hands, swaying their bodies, and singing along.

That was the most memorable moment i had and cherished up until now.

While singing countless of songs, there, mix in the crowd, i see him. We lock eyes for a moment, until a girl came and grab his arm. He, before i knew it, was out of reach once again.

I watch him walk away from the crowd, and i couldn't hold my tears anymore..

"The next song, is dedicated to the man of my dreams, that i can't never have beside me, ever" I said.

THE SONG;

Every morning at school, i want to see you first thing...

Every break i have, it's full of you; Images, thoughts, and only you...

Every night at home, i wish for you to notice me tomorrow.

Day by day, you grow, while i was left alone at the corner thinking of you

Day by day, i get hurt, knowing you have someone, and that wasn't me

Day by day, i didn't lose hope, i believe that one day you will set your eyes upon me

Tell me i don't have worry about a thing

Tell me you'll be there even if it's too late

Tell me i have a chance cause i will wait for you

Oh oh tell me if i have to stop...

I know it was my fault, because i was scared

but it was more than that, you don't know...

I fear one day i will lose you to someone else,

I fear that one day, i can't have you anymore and i was wrong for thinking like that, I'm a coward for not trying to tell you that...

Day by day, you grow, while i was left alone at the corner thinking of you

Day by day, i get hurt, knowing you have someone, and that wasn't me

Day by day, i didn't lose hope, i believe that one day you will set your eyes upon me

Tell me i don't have worry about a thing

Tell me you'll be there even if it's too late

Tell me i have a chance cause i will wait for you

Oh oh tell me if i have to stop...

...

He once look back...before he was truly gone

I woke up in bed by the sound of the alarm clock. My eyes adjusted to the day light peeking through my window, and then i sit on the side of the bed blankly staring at the alarm clock, still ringing.

"Quiet that clock now if you are already awake" Mom suddenly said behind my back, peeking at the door.

"Oh! yeah right...right" I said, while shaking my head back to my senses, as i turn off the alarm clock.

"You can come down after you're done preparing yourself, breakfast has been made. I gotta left you early for today cause of emergency, gotta go now, bye~~" Mom said, hurrying herself, putting her heels.

*sigh, you don't have to say that mom, this is my usual mornings.

I walk to the bathroom, scratching my head and stop at the front of the mirror. Looking at my reflection from head to where it is cut seen.

"Why did you deam about him?" i ask to myself. Talking to my reflection as if it is going to answer my question. I waited for a while...

"Oh my~~~ I look so stupid" I realize to myself.

...

"Today, we will be having a child conference for everyone at the school. I expect that your cooperation in this matter, we will be having a guest from the division..."

I am focusing... i was focusing... suddenly i just felt my mind drifting to the abyss. Sitting on my chair, palm on my chin, watching at the teacher walking back and forth while talking.

I see darkness around... am i daydreaming? What is this?

"Hello?" I shouted. My echo is the reponse i receive. I proceed on walking, with no distination in mind. The place is dark, all i can think is walking, hoping to see a light.

"Light..." I whisper to myself.

First step... the room burst in with light. My eyes hurts, it took a while to adjust...

"What just happened?" i ask in confusion. Studying the litted room around me.

If what i thought is right...then...

"Land! a place, fill with flowers and flowing river, and beautiful sky!" I shout while closing my eyes.

I waited for a while... My eyes open at the sound of a bird chirping at some distance. There, my eyes sees a paradise, just as i imagine.

"Wow~~"

"This is amazing"

I know this is a dream, this is just a dream... but so what? This is amazing!... I can imagine of things that i want here freely!

I was overjoyed by what i can do, but this world will be put to a stop once i regain my consciousness...

...

I am back at the reality...

"Hey?! what's wrong with you?" My friend ask... explaining how she vigorously shaked my entire body to wake me up

"Why what's wrong? did something hapened?" I ask her

"We need to go to the conference hall as the welcoming guests" She said

"This is gonna take long... what do you think is the estimated time frame?" I ask her curiously.

"Why would you ask that?.... you really seems troubled are ya?" She jokinglyl replied.

"Hahaha~~ no... i mean i guess everyone wants to go home early, not just me" I said as i shake both of my hands.

"You're right~~ well, i expect this as a long-as meet and greet conference" She said, frowning her face.

...

All of the students were instructed to go to the conferene hall as it is almost time.

"Students, please make your way to the conference hall, and please be settle in this given minutes; 10 mins."

"Argh~~ i really hate that P.A. system... it's really cracking my head"

"It's almost a decade since that wasn't change at all"

"No budget maybe?"

"No, they're just hoarding the students money"

"Shhh~~~ don't say that out loud, they can hear you"

As we walk towards the hall, that conversation is what our ears heard. We exchange looks with my friend and she laugh...

"I can't blame them... it's the truth" She whisper to me.

I agree...

...

In ten minutes, everyone settled on their chairs. I look over my shoulders to see if there are any movements in this conference...

We saat there for like almost 30 minutes, it's alaready 5 p.m. and there is still no sign of the guests.

Everyone was irratated on their sits. chattering until our voices together were like at the supermarket.

"Oh my~~ it's already 5 p.m. who would care to explain tihs to my parents?"

"Oh please~~~ you are already a highschool student shirley"

"Why it didn't start yet?"

"Are they planning to starve us"

...

"We humans are really incapable of patience, i tell ya" My friend said, facing to me.

"Well, can you tolerate this?" I ask, grinning at her

"I'm still a human though, of course not!" She replied.

And so we laugh...

...

"You know what Claire.. someday, i really want to go on that stage and perform" She suddenly confess..

"Wow~~~ that's so great!! i didn't even think about that" I said, glancing at the stage.

"It is great to be seen..." She said.

I look at her admiring the stage so much...

"One day... one day you'll be there Susan" I said.

I stare at the gigantic stage... did i ever imagine to be up there?... Haahahahha~~~ just the thought of it makes me laugh... Maybe a physical change of me and anonymousity will take me there one day... but that's totally impossible...

I guarantee it...