“Nikki! Time for bed!” Mom called from downstairs. I groaned and turned off my TV. I put on my slippers and walked to the bright bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I could hear my parents downstairs watching a movie, most likely an action film. As I was finishing up, I heard a door slyly creak open. Scared stiff, my body froze as a shadow crept across the floor stealthily. I held my breath as the shadow came around the corner, and a scream started to form just as my little sister ran by me. While I shook my head in irritation, our eyes met, and she tried to run back to her room. I caught her arm in an iron grasp, and she turned to face me, guilt plastered across her expression. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked her straight in the eye, impatiently tapping my foot.  

“I had a bad dream,” she whispered to me. Her eyes widened in innocent fear and shame, but I simply shrugged my shoulders, and she left, bolting back to her bed. I rolled my eyes and went back to my room. Excited by my chance to finally get a break from my family and get some alone time, I breezed into my room. I was never alone in this house; it was always “family time”. I switched off my lamp and climbed into bed. Pulling the covers up to my chin, my lips released a contented sigh and my eyes gently closed. 

Not long after I had drifted off, I woke again, dazed and confused. When I felt around for my phone, I instead found a hard surface. My eyebrows furrowed together as I kept feeling around. Jagged rocks cut across my fingers, and I pulled my hand away in fright. My eyes focused, and I looked up to find a blue sky. Looking down I found rubble and rocks where I was searching just moments ago. Wait…blue sky?? Rubble?? I sat straight up in my “bed” of rubble. Tall city buildings loomed over me, and the sun beat down on my face. I ran my hands down my face and jumped up. What is happening? Where am I? How’d I get here? Nobody was near me to question or help though usually in a large city there would be a huge crowd.

“HELLO?” I screamed, hoping some voice would hear me and call back…but nobody did. I yelled again and again, my voice dying out and becoming hoarse. Each time I called out, there wasn’t a sound to be heard besides the eerie echoes of my yells. Panting, I ran around the rubble, searching for any sign of life. I ran through the streets of destruction, but I found nothing. Bakeries with delicious pastries, and clothing stores with the most dashing outfits lined the streets, but not a single person was milled about. The only sound to be heard was my own footsteps and the rustle of the wind. I stopped walking to take a few deep breaths. The silence was too odd, not what I was used to. I missed the noisy atmosphere of my house. Sniffing back tears I started walking again. My heart started racing and I began to slow down my pace. I saw a green bench by the side of one building and sat down there amid my panic. 

I sighed and tears started to run down my face. I would be stuck here forever, in a world all alone with no family or friends. I thought of my dear mom, and remembered how whenever I was scared she would comfort me with hugs and sweet chocolate ice cream. The tears dripped down faster as I recalled the memory. I sat frozen. I may never be able to see my mom again. I sat up, rigid with fear as I realized what my fate had come to. I would never see my family again if I didn’t try to get out. I got up off my bench, and turned towards my right triumphantly, determination written on my face. 

I turned and ran as fast as I could. I was going back to where I had first woken up, maybe there would be some way home there. There was nothing but a plain in front of me, I would turn to my right as I grew closer to the plain. The wind whipped at my legs as my hair flew back behind me. BAM! I fell back and my head hit the cement. My head throbbed as I rolled onto my back. I groaned as I felt my head for any bumps or cuts—luckily, I didn’t find any. I  got up slowly and cautiously to avoid any further problems and looked to see what caused my fall. Amazingly, nothing had caused my fall. Ahead of me was the beautiful field with the most gorgeous flowers. I gasped as I realized that there must be some sort of force field between me and this field. I shakily held out my hand and was fascinated to feel resistance, an invisible force pushing back. I thrust my hand further into the invisible wall. Soon enough, my arm was in, then my chest was in, and eventually, I only had a head left outside the force field. I took a gulp of fresh air, not knowing if I would survive the journey to the other side of this forcefield. 

As I yanked my head through the invisible barrier, I felt a pulling in every direction. I took a step and then another, the pulling sensation only increasing. Amazingly, I could actually breathe, but it was hard. It was like looking into a smudged mirror, everything was blurry yet I could see the plain in front of me. The pressure was almost unbearable, it felt like I was underwater. I took another step forward, but now, I could feel grass underneath me. I pulled my arms out away from my body slowly, and my hands escaped the forcefield. With another step, I was out completely, and I took a breath of fresh air. I felt as if I had just run a mile as I sat down in the grass; the steps within the forcefield had taken more effort than I realized. The sweet aroma of the flowers filled my nose. I inhaled deep and flopped down onto the grass with a sigh. The sweet songs of birds filled the air with a sense of happiness and serenity. My eyes closed softly, but soon fluttered open as a sudden realization hit me hard. I might be stuck in this field, I may be able to get back in but there was no guarantee. My heart started to race and I ran my hands through my hair, and I sat up with anxiety gnawing at me. 

I jumped up from my spot in the cozy grass and ran back to the force field. I pushed my hand against the wall and waited for it to go though. Instead, it was like hitting a rock. I pounded and pounded as tears started to form. That city was my only way of getting back home! What was I thinking? I kicked the wall, and pain throbbed in my foot. I was sobbing now as I recalled my fate. I would be stuck in a field forever. I sank back down into the grass, tears dripping down my face and fell asleep to the sweet sounds of nature, recalling those sweet moments when my mother would calm me down when I was stressed. 

The next time I awoke, it was to the sound of sizzling bacon greeting me. I felt around for grass, confused once again by my surroundings. Instead, I found pillows and blankets. I smiled as my eyes flew open, and a familiar sense of home welcomed me. I jumped out of bed and sprinted down the stairs. I gave a little yip when I saw my sister and parents at the breakfast table. Bolting to my mom, I engulfed her in a bear hug. 

“Wow, you’re quite happy this morning!” my mom laughed. She kissed my head and gave me a plate. “You slept in too.” I smiled at her and sat down at the brown table. The food made my mouth water. I gobbled up my warm food and sat satisfied as my mom gave me another plate. I was home, not stuck in a field or a city without her; I was no longer alone. I grinned as I took a bite of cereal. I never wanted to be alone again.