Lizzy opened her eyes in the darkness. She blinked a couple times, listening to the rain pour outside. Was that just a dream? She thought before quickly realizing that she was in an unfamiliar surrounding. Upon moving her arm, she found that it wouldn't budge. Looking down, her mother was holding it firmly while sleeping hunched down. Lizzy shook her mom awake.

"Lizzy...ah. You're.. awake?" Mom said, rubbing her puffy eyes.

"Mom, what happened?" Lizzy asked innocently. Her mind was absolutely empty.

"Sweetheart... you were with.. Kaeun.. remember? You went to go take her home from the airport." Mom explained before her eyes were formed with liquid. Lizzy was about to lift a hand and comfort her mother when images sparked in her head, reminding her of the incident. Wha... what is this? Her eyes remained on mom as she recalled every little thing that happened.

"M-mom... why are you crying?... is.. is it Kaeunnie?" She managed to say although her voice was shaky.

"Our Kaeun... is gone, Lizzy-ah." Mom squeezed out while drying and holding back her tears.

Lizzy couldn't speak. She was at a dead end for words. Her ears were deceiving her. The world was spiraling like nonsense. It was... very hard for Lizzy to believe.

"Gone?.... W-what? That doesn't make any sense, did she go back to Italy?"

Her mom pulled her into a tight hug, rubbing her back. G-gone? Kaeun was totally fine. She looked- Her thoughts were interrupted by the image of her little sister sitting beside her in the passenger seat, looking... dead. Lizzy released herself from mom's grasp. Her eyes trailed down slowly at her two hands. They were shaking. Mom takes notice and places her hand on top of Lizzy's.

"My daughter. My precious, sweet daughter. Please... allow this unworthy mother to be selfish for once. Please... don't ever cry, do not ever let me resent you... you are all I have." Mom begged, breaking into tears once more. Lizzy felt apologetic towards her mother, so she stifled her emotions and gave mom a warm embrace.

~

(Dream)

Lizzy's POV

Where am I? Everything was dark. I couldn't see a single thing but myself so it didn't last long before noticing that my wrists were restrained with chains. I turned my back at the darkness, only to notice a sudden stage appearing before me. The curtains drew back, revealing a girl standing and holding onto a microphone. Without moving an inch, it felt as if I was right beside her on top of the stage. We stood facing each other while looking into one another's eyes. Within this girl's eyes, I could see myself. My reflection. However, I couldn't see her.

"There is something important for you to know... but now is not the right time." She speaks into the mic.

"When is the right time?"

"You will see this stage again when you stumble upon your future. Only then shall it be the right time." She answered vaguely before dropping the microphone abruptly.

~

My eyes opened wide along with my ears, taking in all the sounds effects coming from outside the window. What sort of dream was that? Putting that aside, mom seemed to have left. I looked at a clock attached to the wall. '5pm.' She probably went home to get some rest. I got off of the one-sized bed and made my way to the window. It was still pouring. While lifelessly watching the raindrops bounce off the ledge continuously, I felt one upon my cheek. Being curious, my hand decided to investigate the whereabouts of the drop. Case closed. It was coming from my eyes. I.. was crying. The streaming teardrops were literally enough to fill up river. Although I cried like that, everythi