A Short Nap

It was a bright sunny day. Rick and Tina were heading to school to write their last exam of that academic year. On the way they met their friend Ashley who seemed to be very tired and dull. Tina checked on Ashley if everything was alright. Ashley replied that everything was fine, it was just the exam that she was worried of. Though Rick seemed to be convinced by her reply, Tina was still suspicious about Ashley’s response.

Tina had known Ashley from her childhood. She has always been a sportive, bubbly and a cheerful girl. She used to cheer up other's if she noticed them being dull. But today she was not being herself and that worried Tina so much.

The friends reached school on time and were about to enter the exam hall. That time Tina heard someone calling Ashley from behind one of the pillars. It was none other than Ashley’s father. Ashley turned pale at the sight of her father. She rushed near her father and the two of them had a heated argument. Tina couldn't hear what they were talking. But she was sure now that something was wrong with Ashley.

The final bell had gone now and the students had to enter the exam hall. Tina had no other choice but to leave the place immediately. Ashley entered the exam hall too in few minutes. Her eyes were red in colour and she had cried for some reason. Tina couldn't think about the exam or anything else. Her mind was fully occupied with thoughts about Ashley.

Throughout the exam time, Tina took a glance of Ashley on how she was. She did not write her exam properly. She couldn't recollect the answers nor concentrate on the same as her mind was preoccupied with thoughts about Ashley. She was waiting impatiently to go and meet her. Finally when the exam was over, Tina rushed to meet Ashley. But Ashley had already started walking out of the school campus. When Tina tried to catch-up with her, Rick pulled Tina’s bag and stopped her.

Tina got shocked when she was pulled back by Rick. But she did not stop as Ashley was walking very fast towards the bus stop. Tina did not want to loose sight of her. As she did not have time to explain Rick whatever happened at school, she just signalled him to follow her and kept moving. Finally both Tina and Rick kept following Ashley to the bus stop. There they saw Ashley's father waiting for her. Tina ran quickly and stopped Ashley before she could cross the road.

Ashley was shocked to see Tina and Rick following her. Tina questioned her again what was wrong with her. She pleaded Ashley to tell her the truth and that she would definitely help her out with whatever the problem was. Tears rolled down Ashley’s eyes. She was totally broken and her hands were shaking. Before Ashley could tell anything, her father called out her name and asked her to come quickly as they were getting late.

Ashley took hold of Tina’s hands and held them firmly. She promised she would give a call to Tina once she reaches home and tell her what the problem was. Tina cheered Ashley and consoled her assuring that they would surely find a solution to her problem soon. Tina also said she would be waiting for her call and gave her a tight hug. Rick gave a gentle pat on Ashley’s shoulder and consoled her not to worry much about anything.

Ashley gave a little dull smile and tried to cross the road. She gave them one last look and when she tried to cross the road she saw a big yellow truck approaching fast, towards her. Before she could realise anything the truck hit her hard and she was thrown away to the nearby platform where she lay bleeding and breathing the last few minutes of her life. Tina and Rick was shocked to their life and Tina ran towards Ashley screaming, “No! Please! Ashley wake up!”.

Ashley could hear Tina’s voice deep in her ears. Again she heard those words, ‘Ashley wake up please!’. Ashley woke up all of a sudden and to her relief she saw Tina, her sister, getting ready to office. She was waking Ashley for the past ten minutes since Ashley laid down for a short nap after her morning walk. Her brother Rick and sister Tina got ready and were heading down for breakfast. Ashley woke up from bed and hugged them before they could leave the room. Rick and Tina couldn't understand the weird act of Ashley that morning. Yet they hugged her back and they all shared a sweet moment before each of them left to work.

Ashley decided that day not to take a short nap in her life however tired she was. She was also curious to know why she was dull and what the problem was which she was facing in her dreams… Will Ashley's dream vanish or continue to haunt her everytime she fell asleep?