MARRIED TO A BEAST

Thinking about Alice and her mysterious disappearance robbed me of a well-deserved night of rest, and it was when the day is about to break that I finally drifted to the dream world. As usual, my dreams were filled with demons and hell, and I woke up with a scream and a horrific look.

"Good morning, Jasmine. You must have been dreaming."

I opened my eyes, smiled to welcome my foster mother, and then rolled to the edge of the bed and let out, "Yes, Nana. I was having a bad nightmare. Is it daybreak already?"

Nana giggled, pointed at the reflective sliding glass and let out, "Stand up lazy bone. The sun is about to come out."

"Ouch. I feel weak and exhausted," I muttered, stretched my arms and yawned out loud. "Where is Brown?"

"He is getting dressed up for work, and he will be going without me."

"Why is he in a hurry? You always drive out at the same time."

"Yes, Jasmine. I have a presentation at a university in another state, and then another presentation at a seminar. I won't be bac