She believed in her dreams but was horrified of them. Another step or two and there she would be, face-to-face with Damon. Words scattered through her head. Random thoughts and feelings were taking over her brain waves. She pictured a can of pencils, a beach ball. Anything she could think of besides the fathers.

Eventually she was there in the waiting room, with her nails clutched on the stiff upholstered chairs. When the secretary walked out into the room, the girl who believed in her dreams was so tense that she immediately passed out.

When she woke again she was in complete darkness and silence. As her eyes adjusted, the moon glow seeped through the plastic blinds, and the shadows of tables and coat racks formed in the room. When she leaned up slightly, she saw the outline of a door, bordered in light. She had no idea where she was, and couldn’t decide whether to get up and escape or hold as still as possible. So she compromised, as usual, by wriggling around in the bed.

That’s when she heard footsteps outside the door. She was sweating and shaking, as if death were approaching. The doorknob turned, and the bright light fell on her face so intensely, it caused her to lose her breath. She couldn’t see who was there, until they were two millimeters from her face and she could feel someone else’s breath in her own throat. “You’re done now,” the breath said. She gasped and as she felt herself faint again, momentarily feeling infuriated with her tendency to do so.

This time when she woke up her thigh was throbbing in pain. Before her eyes focused, she heard, “Hello, girl. I am Damon.” The girl didn’t answer for a moment, but she was so sick of fainting, that she forced herself. She screamed and cursed with all her strength, and abruptly ceased when she realized it wasn’t working. Damon looked slightly concerned, but smiled pleasantly seconds later. “Girl, welcome to your dreams.” The girl who believed in her dreams hesitated, and then spoke.