All Chapters of A Troubled Mind : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The warm light shining in her face caused Cara's eyes to flutter open. She blinked repeatedly and used her hand to shield her eyes as she tried to figure out where she was standing and where the warm, bright light was coming from. She heard voices echoing in the distance, but couldn't discern what they were saying or who they might belong too. The light in her eyes slowly dimmed and after blinking quite a few times, Cara was surprised to see that she was standing in front of her high school. Looking all around she could see that the parking lot was filled with vehicles. Some were very old and obviously from bygone eras. Others were much newer. It was like some weird car show or something. Cara was confused. She didn't know how she had gotten here or what was going on. Looking beyond the school building she could see the high school's football stadium lit up. Just then, cheers rang out from within it. She wondered if there was a football game. She looked back at the parking lot and

Cara, turned and looked at her family home. She had mastered control of her ability to travel wherever she wanted. She merely had to think of a location and it would manifest there in front of her. Standing there in the street memories of everything that she had endured in her family's home since that Monday, came flooding back to her. Cara stood there with memory after memory coming to her. The memories caused her to relive a host of emotions. At the verge of feeling overwhelmed, Cara noticed that the wind had picked up. It began blowing harder and harder, whipping her red hair all around. It almost looked like a wild fire raging on her head. All around her it got steadily darker and darker. Thunder began to rumble up above her head. Lightning began cracking off as well. Causing the house in front of her to light up like a strobe light hung above it. Large rain drops started to fall on her as she started walking up the front steps. Cara stopped on the porch and looked all around th

The sun was warm on her face as she sat there on the grass looking out across the pond. There was a small flock of Canadian geese swimming along, honking at each other as they seemed to glide across the mirrored water. Here and there a fish occasionally broke the surface of the water. The reflection of the trees creating the illusion of a twin upside-down forest, their fall colors were amazing. Over on the far bank a few muscovy ducks napped or preened their feathers. Near the ducks was the old dock. Usually there were people fishing or feeding the ducks from there. Today it stood empty. Other than the honks of the geese and occasional quack of the ducks it was completely silent. There was no one else in sight. Cara had always loved to come here. She had been here many times with Mrs. Davies throughout her childhood. They had come to feed the water fowl and to have picnics. As Cara sat there looking around, she wondered if there actually were people here. She wondered if it was like at

"Hello Cara. I'm Dr. Frankston. I'm very glad to see that you are awake." The handsome older man smiled down at her. He looked over at a pretty blonde nurse and nodded his head. She smiled down at Cara before writing something down on the chart she held in her hands. The nurse looked over at the bedside monitor before turning and whispering something to a male nurse beside her. They both shared a knowing look before turning back to the doctor. They obviously were waiting for further instruction. The doctor smiled down at Cara and then turned to the male nurse, "Mike, if you would please, go let them know. And bring them back down here please." Mike nodded and then smiled down at Cara one last time before leaving the room. "Cara, you've been through quite an ordeal young lady. We are all very happy to have you back with us. Do you know where you are?" The doctor looked expectantly down at her as he awaited her answer. Cara furrowed her brow as she looked first at the doctor

(Mike) Dad's POV His sleep had been horrible all night long. Mike tossed and turned. When he managed to sleep it wasn't restful at all. He had been plagued by a terrible nightmare. All night when he slept he was transported back to Kaylee's viewing and funeral. Each time it was the same. He would peer into the coffin but instead of seeing his daughter's best friend laying there it was always Cara. Each time he would wake up, heart racing, barely able to breathe. Then he would toss and turn over and over again until sleep took him again and it would repeat. He was certain that it would drive him mad if he continued to lay there. Looking at his bedside clock he saw that it was almost a quarter to four. Sighing loudly he rubbed his hand over his face in exasperation and made the decision to get up and go make coffee. Then he slung the blanket off of himself and sat up on the side of the bed. He slid his feet into his slippers and sat for a moment rubbing his face. He sighed again as he