Hana put on her red beret framing her blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and blonde curly hair. Angie saw her as she hopped off from the car, smiled walking towards her. “Hey, Hana, good morning.”

“Hi Ms. Fernandez,” she smiled back flashing her white teeth and dimples. “You look so pretty,” she added her eyes wandered from head to toe.

Angie held her hand as they entered the boutique to the workshop where Michael was waiting. Amidst the knowledge of those surrounding her, she was careful not to show her anxious face worried about the dream she had the previous night. She shook her head and reminded herself that there is nothing to worry about. It was just a nightmare. Nothing of that sort will happen.

“There you are my angel,” he beamed at the sight of Hana wearing a red overall jumper. The days passed by quickly as everyone’s hand become tied with the schedule for the winter collection. They only have a month left before they launch their new collection.

Even with the passing days and busy schedule, Angie still had those vicious dreams of the little girl and Vince in an accident.

“Lindsey, can I disturb you for a moment?” Angie knocked on her door which was left open.

“Oh, hey Angie. Sure. Have a seat,” she replied.

“Can you go out for lunch instead?”

“That sounds great. There’s a place here that I’ve been wanting to visit with you,” she stood, gathered her bag and smartphone, wrapped her hands around Angie’s arms as they head out of the boutique.

It was a busy Thursday afternoon as flocks of tourists wandering to and fro the chateau, marveling at the cobblestones and magnificent architecture. But a small figure caught her eye strolling around in yellow flower dress accentuating her blonde curly hair.

“Does she always come on her own?” Angie asked Lindsey pointing at the girl in a yellow dress.

“Oh you mean, Hana?” Lindsey replied as she sipped her wine. “Her parents are businessmen, so they usually send a driver or one of their employees to pick her up. Why?”

“I have been dreaming about her lately,” Angie whispered as she turned her head to where Hana was standing. But, she was no longer there.

“Really?”

“Yes,” she stood up when she can’t see Hana anymore.

“Angie where are you going?” Lindsey called out when Angie dashed out of the restaurants in a flash. She stood up and followed Angie who was running towards the place where Hana was standing.

“No ----” the sound of screeching wheels echoed in the busy street of Champlain turning every head and causing some vehicles to collide resulting in a huge traffic jam in the busy intersection. Most of the passersby halted in their tracks and drivers scratching their heads as they climbed out of their autos investigating the scene.

An ambulance, rescue team and police patrols came rushing in a few minutes. Lindsey stood at the stoplight in a complete daze. The rescue team delicately pulled the truck out of the scene, as well as the other casualties, including humans. For a second, Lindsey’s heart stopped as an ambulance wheeled in. She rushed to the site and saw Angie and Hana sitting on the ambulance. The incident left wounds on Angie’s legs and Hana was silently tearing up next to her.

Lindsey dashed next to Angie and Hana who were both flustered at what happened. Although in a daze herself, she embraced both girls knowing they need all the support they can get. She brought out her phone and dialed Tiffany’s number.

A few minutes later, they were escorted to the police station to stand as witnesses for the recent accident. Lindsey went with them to lend a helping hand to the girls. Angie was quiet the whole time filtering out what to say. She can’t possibly tell them she dreamed about the accident. In her confusion, tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

“Can you tell us exactly what happened?” a man in a police uniform asked.

“My friend and I,” pointing at Lindsey “were eating lunch at a nearby restaurant. I saw Hana on the other side of the pedestrian on her own. She is only 8 years old, I can’t let her cross the street by herself.”

“Then what happened?” he asked again.

“When I turned around, she was not there. So I rushed to where she was standing when I saw the truck speeding to her direction. I could not just stand there doing nothing so I sprinted to her hoping that I could save her. When I did, all I heard were some loud sounds coming from the truck and other cars.”

The interrogation lasted for almost an hour. They had to wait for Hana’s guardians to pick her up. As they were about to leave, some policemen arrived with a handcuffed man. They sat him next to Angie who scooted as the man rift of alcohol.

“What’s your name?” asked another investigator tending to the handcuffed man. When he mumbled in response, the other policeman nudged him, “louder.”

“Vince Lee,” he said. Angie turned around to look at the man sitting next to her. She tilted her head to look at his face. But he was looking at the ground and hair covering his profile.

Her head was spinning in circles remembering the dream she had the previous nights. “No way,” she mumbled between her breath. In her dream, his face was covered in blood after having a fistful fight with some strangers. But, with the way he was sitting, she could not confirm if her worst nightmare just turned real.

When the investigators could not get anything out of him, they decided to detain him until his guardian and lawyer picked him up. When they stood up, Angie saw Vince’s profile in broad daylight. He was exactly how she saw him in her dream.

“Angie, let’s go,” Lindsey cut her reverie. She stood up averting her gaze. The accident has already been traumatic for her considering what she had been through a year ago. There was no way she can meddle with another troubled human being. She just got her life back.

Vince was taken away and put inside the jail. He knew Tony and Ashley were the only ones who can bail him out. But they were out of the country so he was expecting that he will be detained for a few days, perhaps even weeks. He banged his head because of the excruciating pain and stomach lurched making him want to puke at that very moment. His entire body has taken the toll for days of drunkenness that sometimes he could not remember how he got home or where he was when he wakes up. No one can save him at that moment, so he chose to lay his head on the cold floor and closed his eyes.

Ring. Ring. The sound of the smartphone reverberated across the room stirring anyone within a 10-meter radius. Vince who dozed on the sofa almost fell from the couch looking for his phone, which is usually put next to his being on the bedside table. When he picked up the caller hung up. With eyes half-open and mind half-asleep, he sat upright rubbing his eyes and stretching his neck to awake himself.

Beep. He went through the text message which made him stand up after as he stretched out, stood up and pour some water on glass. He drank three glasses in a row like he had an unquenched thirst that had been deprived for the last few days.

Vince was being summoned to the US embassy for an assignment. In spite of his unwilling body, he washed himself up with cold water to awaken the sleeping spirit within him. He drove towards the embassy looking casual with his blue polo shirt and gray trousers. An hour later he emerged from the embassy, strolling around Chateau Frontenac.

It was a beautiful sight, a tourist destination, indeed. He rode the funicular down to the Rue du Petit Champlain. Mesmerized at the hidden alley where no cars can pass by. The backstreet was packed with local and foreign alike walking up and down the cobblestones and quaint shops of food and trinkets. It was a sight to behold where people of all ages and walk of life mingled and strolled at. Like everyone else, he sauntered along the street, up and down the stairs until he settled at a bar at the foot of the funicular. The hours passed by bemused at the idea of people watching the entire afternoon. He didn’t realize how drunk he was until he attempted to stand up. When the bartender refused to give him more drinks, he berserk and caused a scene in the bar which prompted the owner to call the police. He was out of his wits for having to involve in a brawl with the bar’s bouncers. There he was now lying flat on his back on the cold prison. As to when he will come out, only time can tell. But, he might not be able to see the light of the sun at the rate that he was doing.