Drip, drip, drip.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Drip, drip, drip.

"Hello? Can anyone hear me?"

Drip, drip, drip.

"Someone please answer me."

Nothing. Just pure silence as pure darkness surrounds me. I couldn't see anything around me, but I could see myself perfectly. Nothing was making sense. Nothing was with me in the darkness. Just the distant echoing sound of water dripping. I couldn't even make out where it was coming from. Temptation to explore towards the water was strong, but my fear of the unknown was even stronger. Suddenly a bright light filled the darkness, making me protect my eyes from being blinded.

If I hadn't known before, I knew now that I was dreaming due to the images of my sister smiling in picture frames and videos of vacations. My parents together and happy. But, that all had ended after my sister died. With the darkness gone, I was now in our small living room, staring at my crying mother sitting on the stained, outdated, striped couch. My father was standing by the window, holding in tears as people paid their respects.

It broke my heart to see my parents in this state once again. It was clear to see that my mother hadn’t gone to work for days and her hair was a complete mess. She probably never left her worn out pajamas since she got the news from the police four nights ago. My father hasn't shaved since then either, but he probably still went to work even when he hasn’t been the same since receiving the news.

In my dream, I stood in the middle of the room as if I were a ghost. No one paid attention to me as if they couldn’t even see me. To them, I was invisible and that was what I had wanted on the day of my sister’s funeral. The day that completely destroyed everything that I had held so dear. My sister had torn our family apart by leaving this Earth, and I don’t think I will ever have it in me to ever forgive her for doing such a selfish thing.

But, something didn’t feel right in this dream, and I just couldn’t understand why I was getting this feeling. Everything was exactly the way I remembered my sister’s funeral being, but something was missing. I started to examine the room trying to solve the feeling I had. Nothing jumped out at me, screaming that it was out of place. Nothing told me it was the reason for the unease I was feeling. Until my mother spoke. She spoke so quietly that I had to move closer to her to hear what she had said. Hoping she would say it again. That was when I saw the picture. I had never noticed before. It lie resting in her gentle hands. Occasionally she would grip it tightly as if it was her only lifeline. As if her life would truely fall apart if the picture wasn't really there.

“I hope you’re happy to get your wish. Was it that bad to lose your life over?" my mother whimpered making my father looked towards her, “You should have listened to me, Leah.”

“Rebecca, please don’t question our daughter’s death,” my father said, moving close to my mother as an attempt to go comfort her. But she only smacked him away.

“Don’t come near me, Jim!” My mother shouted, breaking the mourning silence that had taken over the room, “It’s all your fault! She wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for you!”

Shocked by what she said, I couldn’t hear the rest of the argument. All I could hear was the sound of my heart racing and the deep breaths of disbelief I was gasping in. I couldn’t be dead. I was standing right here, right in front of my parents. This isn’t my funeral, this is my sister’s. Mom is supposed to be going through this with Sally. Not me. I’m still breathing. Or, at least I hope I was.

I was tempted to run to my mother and make her look at me and tell her that I was still very much alive. But, part of me knew that it wouldn’t help. This dream would make sure I was the ghost that I was playing out. There was no escaping this harsh reality as the darkness slowly closed in on me again.

With one last breath, I screamed. Hoping at least someone would hear me, "I'm not dead!"