Stuck in a small dark room… Loud banging coming from one of the doors. I run into another room. The door closes behind me with a loud bang. I's pitch black and the closest door to me is locked. The lights suddenly switch on, I turn around and I'm surrounded. There's a headless mannequin to my left, A mannequin head to my right, And the lady in red crawling towards me. I can hear a loud ticking sound, But it's not distracting me. These things are moving towards me in sync with the loud ticking. Closer and Closer, there's no escape. And then, Black.

. . .

It's been eight years since I had that nightmare. I was nine when I first had it. When I woke up, I was expecting to be in my bedroom. But where I was I couldn't recognize it at first, I was on the floor, using a torn up jacket as a blanket. It wasn't my jacket. There was someone else with me, making sure I slept safe... This jacket was their jacket… But who was it?

I sat up in my bed, rubbed my eyes and then finally got up and walked to my mirror. I looked at my reflection. I definitely have changed over eight years so whoever was in that room with me probably wouldn't recognize me now…seeing how I was nine then, and Im seventeen now. I've been living on my own in a little apartment for a year now. I never really talked to any of my neighbours either. But I did notice this one man the other day, who looked quite familiar. He looked about twenty six years old. He lives on my floor just down the hall. I noticed him when we both got in to the elevator one day. He also seemed to be going to the same place I was going. The café. I usually go every Tuesday, and oddly so does he, at around 10a.m. just like I do. His hair is a lavender colour with dark purple. He wears a navy blue torn up jacket... Now that I think about it, his jacket is just like the one I woke up in after the nightmare. What if he's the person I'm looking for! Today would have to be the day I find out. I quickly run into my closet and pick out my favourite outfit. A white dress shirt with a red scarf and skirt, black knee socks, and red flats. Before I head out I tie a little red rose in my hair.

Sure enough, he was waiting for the elevator. The doors opened right when I got to them. We got in and I noticed him looking at me curiously. I take a glance over, and our eyes meet. The elevator door opened, and both of our eyes met to it. He motioned for me to go first, because it's the gentlemen thing to do. I snuck a little smile before walking ahead. Maybe I was right… Then again maybe I'm wrong and I'm just overthinking things. Or even making it all up! I was nine, maybe I just made up a game and made the man up. If that was true, why does this man look almost identical to the man I was with? I reach into my bag, and take out a lemon flavoured hard-candy. The man was lingering around, and looking in my direction every minute he had the chance to. When he thought I wasn't looking, he looked over, and just as he did so did I. I smiled and waved, his face turned a scarlet red of embarrassment, from being caught. He waves back, and then turns and continues on his journey to the café.

In no time I arrive at the café. I order a small drink and a strawberry flavoured macaroon, and walk towards an empty table with two chairs. I notice the man waiting for his drink, he probably wont even stay here long. So I got comfy and pulled out a book. I was so into my book I didn't even notice that the man decided to stay and was walking towards my table. I jumped when he asked "Mind if I have a seat?" I glanced up "or are you expecting someone..?" his facial expression begged me to say no. when I confirmed for him to have a seat, his expression relaxed as he did in the chair. I knew he was staring at me, I could feel it. I glanced up at him and he quickly looked away. "I-I…uh… I'm sorry…" he stammered. I giggle and close my book. His face lit up with embarrassment again. So I decided since he was here would be my best chance to find out if he was the one I was looking for. "You know…" I began. "You look oddly familiar… I remember seeing your jacket from someplace…" he glances up at me, then back down to his lap. "That red rose… looks familiar. I remember it from somewhere. I thought I had just seen it from the statue at the art gallery, but that wasn't it…" He reached for his drink and I noticed a scar on his hand. The scar triggered another memory.

His hand was bleeding bad… He had cut it on a piece of glass that flew off the painting I had just burned. I looked around trying to find something for him, but all there was were drawings and dolls, and ashes everywhere. I reached in my pocket and took out the handkerchief my mother had told me not to lose. I knew she would be very upset if I told her I gave it away, but he seemed to need it more than I did. So I took his hand and wrapped it up with my handkerchief.

"Garry…" I thought. I hadn't realized I said the name out loud until I saw the man slowly look up in shock. "How… how did you?" He began. I looked up to him confused, but quickly look away and try to rack my brain. I've seen him before in my building, so maybe it was just something I made up? But it felt too real to be made up. It felt way too real to be made up. It took me a while to notice he was now waving in my face trying to catch my attention. "Hey, are you alright? How did you know my name?" He seemed to be concerned, but from the look in his eye I could tell he could somewhat recognize me too.

"This may seem a bit weird and out of the blue, but… do you have random frightening flashbacks of an art gallery?"

From the look on his face as I got the words out I could tell that he too was wondering if he had known me from somewhere.

"If you do, by the look on your face I'm assuming so, am I there in those flashbacks too?"

He nods back at me.