Amanda

(Short story)

Written by Alexa L. Preconcillo

Alexa L. P.
'Amanda' I heard a man with a gentle voice. Where am I? It seemed like a wide lawn and blue
sky. I ran a run, but this green place was endless.

'Amanda, join me.' I stopped running, where did that voice come from? I looked around until I
could see a man not far from me. It stared straight at me with a glowing smile.

~He walked toward me until I slowly glanced at his face and as he approached, he gave the
Arabian Jasmie he was holding. ~

'Come with me.' He spoke.

He touched my cheek and it seemed as if he had electricity as he caressed me, he rubbed my lip,
and I felt his face approach me until I felt his soft lips apply to my lips. With my eyes open, his
presence disappeared. I looked around to look for him, but the look seemed to change. The
former wide lawn was replaced by burning houses.
There was a fear in my eyes that I didn't know what to do, children and women asking for
help \"Amanda.\" I heard my name again.

I witnessed this man who came to me slowly burning inside an old house. I approached her and
tried to open the door, but it was hard. My tears flowed as I saw the fire slowly eat his body.

---
I immediately got up, my sweat and cold. A dream.

I dreamed of that mysterious man again.

It was only five o'clock in the morning and the sky still seemed dark. I took a deep breath, a few
nights that man came to my dream and what I could not understand, why did he know my name?

I got off the bed and went straight to the kitchen to make a coffee and then I went to the other
room where all my works were placed. Here I spend my time, painting. The face of the

Alexa L. P.
mysterious man I painted a month ago. In my repeated dream that he was with me, I memorized
every detail of his face.

I stared at the painting for a long time and suddenly remembered my dream. That's just repeated,
dream and I don't understand what that means. I turned around and saw the old bracelet that the
old man had given me when I visited the church. He told me that it was mine and it was too late
to give it back to me before. My forehead twitched, I didn't know what was happening to me
right now, so strange.

What do I do with you and why I always dreamed about you? I just put aside the questions in my
mind first. I remembered that my friend Selina had invited me to attend her aunt's art exhibit.

It was late afternoon, and I was ready to go to the art exhibit. My friend was calling me a while
ago so I hurried to go there.

There were so many people, my friend met me and he introduced me to his aunt. Her aunt Silva
was busy with the guests. I have even heard of some that they want to buy painting in very large
amounts.

Selina allowed me to go around the area. This is great compared to the ones I have been to. If
only I could do this and if I sell my works I will earn a lot. I have been planning to have it for a
long time but my mind is so messed up about all of my problems.

There is no doubt that all of Aunt Silva's work is amazing, so I would not be surprised if she can
sell it millions, and another one is she is known as an artist, so many people will buy her works.

As I walked around the whole area I went to the very end of the exhibit. There are only a few
people here. I even listened to the applause of the people despite the fact, I ignored it. There was
what was covered with white cloth and as I pulled down the cloth a painting opened to me. I
stared at it well because it looked so familiar to me.

I was covered in my mouth when I realized that the man in the painting was the man in my
dream for two months.

Alexa L. P.
how ....

The painting was old, I approached it. I do not understand but there are glittering memories of
my painting I caress the painting. Suddenly my tears flowed.

this man is ....

'is he handsome?' I looked at the speaker and saw Selina.

'Do you know that guy?' I asked her.

'Few know her and that painting is full of stories,' Selina smiled and looked at me. He started at
me to tell a story.

'He is the General Magsakay, known by the name Alfonso. According to the story, the
unexpected war came many years ago. When the enemies rushed to the town of Magsaysay, they
burned the houses there and Alfonso was on fire.

All my dreams are compatible with Selina's story that happened many years ago. Signs that this
body was confined to old memories, I even saw the familiar bracelet the man was wearing in the
painting and realized that it looked like the bracelet that the old man had given me in the church.

Gradually, everything became clear to me that those dreams were a message of what had
happened before and forced to remind me about the past. But why me? Why in my body? Now it
is clear that the two of them are still not separated. This body I do not own and the memories are
still left.

It is true that when a love is true no one can hinder it, it will create a way for someone to feel it
again. No matter how far or how long it is. The memories gradually reflected, now becoming
more and more significant, my tears flowed slowly.

Why did it take so long before I realize?

Alexa L. P.
'His girlfriend was abducted by men and had never been seen. That painting was drawn by his
girlfriend before the incident happened. It was dug in the town of Magsaysay and that painting
was lucky. Before the General died, he mentioned names who are close to him. '

There is sadness in my friend's face as he tells me what she knows.

'And the last name he mentioned is your name, Amanda.'

Alexa L. P.