The images flash by at a lightning pace…

The pain sears through me, but the reward makes it tolerable. I have to push harder to bring my baby, my everything, into this world. As the fear for my baby’s safety engulfs me, an overwhelming sense of sorrow sends tears cascading down my cheeks.

The sound of the explosion has me running toward the source. I have to save him.

Screams and cries of women and children urge me to run faster. Blood everywhere. Too many dead, mutilated bodies are all around me. No, please, no! I’m too late.

Suddenly, I’m running through the field of beautiful wild flowers. I’m playing with Gem, and while I laugh, she barks with excitement. I glance over my shoulder to see Chayse running after me. He tackles me, his weight holding me down. I laugh.

When he turns me over to face him, his eyes are not happy. Without any warning, the force of his knuckles land hard on my face.

Everything goes black.

The nightmares continue to haunt me. The dread of not knowing if these nightmares are a part of my past, present, or future consumes me.

Too many questions. Not enough answers.

But the truth is out there.

I won’t back down. I will find my answers.