• Flying! I yelled through my mind to my brother as I soared through the clouds on my angelic wings.
    We're flying, Matthew! As I looked to my side and saw his pale face, I knew something was wrong. He wasn't smiling. And I knew that my brother Matt would always smile at the strange and amazing.
    Matthew? What's wrong? I thought to him. When I looked back ahead of me, I saw a bright light. Something inside me told me to stop, so I pulled back on my wings and hovered in air. But Matthew kept moving, a smile creeping across his face as he flew into the light.
    Matty...Matthew, stop. Stop! I tried to yell to him, but my thoughts just echoed back to me. When I held out my hand to grab him, it bounced back. There was an invisible wall. Matt was still soaring towards the light, which was growing hotter and hotter. The feathers on his bright wings faded to black, and as he turned around I saw a hysteric smile as the light swallowed him up.
    Matthew! My wings gave out. I was plummeting towards the ground. And then...I woke up.
    My hands were stretched out in front of me, as if the hold onto the clouds in my dream. But the clouds had disappeared, replaced by my sky blue ceiling.
    That one again? I thought and rubbed the sand from my eyes. I lazily kicked my feet out of bed and hugged myself in my kitty paw print pajamas. In the dream I was only ten years old, the same age I had been when Matty died. It was cancer. When we found out it was too late, I guess. I don't know all that much about it and I don't care to, because it gives me nightmares like that one. I keep reminding myself, It's not your fault. But part of me is thinking, Why didn't you notice earlier? You could've helped him! That's why every now and again I have that dream, where I desperatley try to help him. But again and again, I fail.
    Oh well. Time to get up, and shake off last night's episode. I thought as I wiggled my arms. Quiet as a mouse, I tip-toed over to my dresser and threw on my clothes in a blur. Blouse here, skirt there, and I was in front of my mirror examining myself.
    "Hmm, not bad." I giggled as I overlooked my outfit. Purple blouse and a yellow miniskirt, topped off with my neon converse.
    "Dressed for success!" I sang to myself as I sneaked out the door. At least I hoped I was dressed for success. That day was my audition into the Aglee County's Show Choir, and I was determined to make an impression. Even as I walked into the kitchen I was reviewing my lyrics and the kind of shimmy-in-one-place dance I had put together to do while I was singing. Soon enough, the tune was dancing through my head and sneaking out my lips, transforming from a hum into a full-on kareoke session. My spoon as my recorder, I skipped and hopped around the kitchen table, unaware of my mother's presence near the entrance to her bedroom. Only as I did a little spin did I see her tapping her foot and smiling at me, her smirk saying, Oh, she's still that little girl who used to belt out the Adam's family theme song. I halted in place and blushed.
    "Hi Mom. Up so soon?" I stuttered.
    "Oh, you're every bit your mother, you know that? Sandra Dane, super star! You're growing up so fast."
    I groaned and sat in my chair, finally lifting a spoon full of cereal to my mouth.
    "Well, come on, sit." I mumbled through my mouth o' food and ushered her into the chair across from me, even though she was still in her robe. Over Lucky Charms and apple juice, we talked about boys and school and other things of no importance. And even though the conversation was small, it made my mood soar as I stepped out the door and headed for my audition.