"My dreams or, should I call it a Nightmare."

Ring..... Ring

Ring..... Ring

The alarm rang.

The little figure on the bed kept tossing back and forth covering her ears before she finally stopped the alarm.

"Haa. Why does mom always have to set this alarm for me and why does it have to be so loud." Bella said finally cleaning her eyes and taking the alarm to inspect it.

"This is a new alarm. Am very sure of this, I spoilt the last one mom bought and now she bought this again. If I can remember vividly the last one I spoilt was dark green and now this is light green." Bella raised the alarm to smash it on the floor but froze in place after seeing the shadow standing in front of her.

"Bella smith what do you think you are doing?" Mrs smith asked with hands akimbo.

Mom..I...I promise it's not what you are thinking, I didn't want to break it I just wanted to examine it cause it's very pretty.

"Oh! So it's very pretty." Mrs smith said pulling Bella's ear.

"Aww aww aww Mom." It hurts.

"Get up now." Mrs smith said pushing Bella in the direction of the bathroom.

"Ok, ok. Mom, it's fine I'll go have my bath. " I was about to enter the bathroom and stopped in my tracks and turned back to meet my mom still staring at me. Bella ran to hug her mom and began sobbing.

"Thank you, mom. Thank you so much mom for everything. You are the best mom ever I love you."

"What's that now dolly, how many times have I told you not to ever cry?"

"I can't help it, mom. You have always been there for me ever since dad died. I love you." Bella said tightening her grip on her mom's waist.

"Stop it now! Go and have your bathe, I'll get the table ready and come down soon. Don't you dare go back to sleep?" Mrs smith said leaving Bella's room.

"I know you think about him everyday mom, I know how much you miss him." Bella smiled to herself subconsciously. You and dad had such a beautiful love story and understanding, I wonder why mine is different.

Beep beep

Her phone vibrated indicating a message.

Bella walked to the edge of her bed and took her phone. She read the content in it and laughed sarcastically.

Haa haa

"I knew this was going to happen, I expected it but not this early." Bella looked at the time and screamed.

"OMG." How could I have forgotten that I have to visit my NGO today and even my doctor? This is so frustrating, how could I allow myself to sleep like a log?

Bella ran to the bathroom and came out after thirty minutes. She wore blue jeans and a black blouse. She dried and styled her hair in a ponytail and wore black heels.

"I think I look good enough. Oh! My watch and necklace." Bella wore her watch and necklace and applied lip gloss.

"Now am set to meet my angels."

Beep Beep. Bella's phone rang.

She took her phone and saw the id caller before picking up.

How are you doing Nancy? Am fine and you?. Mom is fine. No, don't come, meet me at the NGO. He broke up with me.

What! How could he do that? Who the hell does he think he is I swear I will beat him up and send his boxers to his mother. Nancy said from the other end.

We will talk later sweetheart, bye.

Bye. Nancy said before hanging up.

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Mom, I think this is enough, I can't force myself to eat anymore please mom I need to get going. Bella said picking up her handbag and running.

"Take it easy dolly, don't forget to call me once you get there ok. And please don't eat anything anyhow."

"Ok, mom. Bye, I love you." Bella said opening the door.

Bella entered her car and started the ignitor then drove out of her compound and sighed in relief.

"My name is Bella Smith. I am twenty years old with brain trauma. I hid this from my mom for four years after the death of my dad. My dad Mr. Smith also suffered from the same illness. I don't want to hurt my mom and can't bear seeing her tears so I decided to keep it a secret including the fact that I had just two years remaining to live." My wish is to see my mom happy and also live my remaining years with my prince charming. But I keep getting heartbroken the same way Nelson just ended things with me. Damit. That doesn't stop me from exploring and looking for a man who will love and care for me. At times I think I am selfish but, what can I do? I just want to have a taste of true love before I breathe my last breath. I have decided to run out of the relationship when my time is nearer so I don't hurt the man. I just want to have a taste of true love from a man. The car's ignitor stopped and she got down and walked towards the gate.

"Hey, Bella is here." Bella is here. The kids were jumping and clapping in happiness.

"I ran to the kids and hugged them. I can't control my tears every time I see them. The fact that am going to leave them all makes my heart ache the more.

"Tim, where is Thomas?" Thomas is inside, Bella. I walked inside and saw Thomas preparing some snacks.

"Thomas I found the gate opened what happened?."

"Good morning Aunty Bella. I thought I had closed the gate after I disposed of the bin. Am sorry."

"No. It's ok I just wanted to know the reason but please try to remember to close the gate. We can't trust anybody so easily and you know the kids might go out without permission."

"Ok, ma."

Nancy is coming today, it's been so long since she visited the NGO right?

Yes, aunty Bella. It's been so long since she came here.

"She had some projects and she has been traveling, you know who her dad is right?."

Of course. Who wouldn't know the richest and most influential man? Mr. Adams.

"Bella. If you call me Aunty Bella or Ma again I will throw you out the window."

Everywhere was filled with laughter from Bella, Thomas, and the kids. "Ok, Aunty Bella."

Bella gave him a look of a warning."ok ok I meant Bella."

Good.

"Hello, sweetheart. Hello Thomas." Nancy greeted walking to Bella's seat with the kids at her back.

"Hello, Aunty Nancy."

"Dolly, tell Thomas that if he calls me Aunty again I'll throw him out of the window. You know am still classy and unmarried."

"Haha, that was what I was talking to him about before you came in."

"Hey, Aunty Nancy if you try to throw Uncle Thomas out of the window then I'll just have to lock you up in the store room."

What!! Everyone exclaimed and guessed who just spoke.

John!!!!! It was John, right? John how dare you just wait there and I'll teach you a lesson.

John and Nancy are 5 and 6. They end up arguing with each other. I watched as they argued and kept chasing one another.

Hahaha

Aunty Nancy has fallen.

Hahaha.

Everyone laughed holding their stomach. Ohhh now we know the winner. John won. I shouted and Nancy stared at me before coming to her seat.

You are not been fair at all, Bella. How could you not support me, you supported that little brat.

"Nancy, that little brat is just a child."

A spoilt brat at that, just imagine how that little brat gets on my nerves. "It's ok Nancy, come on cheer up let's talk about something else." What should we talk about?

"Let's talk in the car, am taking you to our favorite restaurant."

"You mean Yummy." Yes, yummy now let's go.

"Oh, I bought my car." No worries you can leave it here. Hey, miss Adams, I bought that car with my hard-earned money, don't you dare test my patience.

"Bella said with a stern look."

Haaaa haaaa. Nancy laughed carrying her bag.

"You got nothing to say?" What should I say?, Tell me what should I say, we have a lot to say when we get to the car. Let's go.

"Go I'll meet you in the car." Suit yourself, Dolly. Nancy said.

"I hugged the children once more and bid them goodbye before going out."

"What took you so long?" What!!!! You mean I took a long time? I only bid the kids farewell and am late. I didn't even use up to an hour and you are complaining.

"I am Nancy Adams. The only heir to the Adams Empire and you are saying this. If you were my business partner then I would have publicly disgraced you." What!!!!! I can't believe this. You know what let's just go or else we'll get into a serious argument that I am not interested in.

"Oh! So you are calling me a troublemaker? Just watch and see. I will make sure to interfere anytime mom is scolding and asking about your boyfriend......" Nancy stopped immediately she noticed the look on Bella's face. Am sorry Bella I didn't mean to...

It's ok Nancy I understand. Why did he break up with you? Did the both of you get into a fight? No, we didn't. He just broke up with me without a reason. Are you sure it's without a reason? Yes... I .... Mean no, you know what, let's just drive out of here.

Nancy ignited the car and drove out. Talk to me Dolly, didn't you let him touch you? Of course, I didn't. Why should I, if I had let him have his way then he still would have left me the same way he just did.

Haa we have arrived. The scent of this restaurant always makes me hungry. Bella said dragging a sit and sitting down. That's why we are here. To eat and enjoy and guess what. What?

Guess now. I really can't you know am not good at guesses unlike you. Ok, my boyfriend, Nicholas is here at the restaurant he will soon come in. The smile plastered on Bella's face soon fades off like that of a little child whose candy was taken away after being happy about the candy. Oh! Ok good for him.

"What do you mean by oh! Ok good for him." I can't lie to you, Nancy. I don't like him. He is so pompous of himself, yes I know he is the most eligible bachelor but.......

You mean you don't like him? There must be a reason behind it please tell me.

"Hello ladies," Nicholas said approaching them with his guards trying to stop the paparazzi from entering the restaurant. He kissed Nancy and kissed Bella's hand. Bella ain't you happy to see me? Oh! No baby, she was the main person waiting for you. She kept asking of you and when you were going to get here. She is only looking this way because her car got spoilt. "What!!! Nancy is such a big liar, how could she have made up a huge lie in a short period of time." I said to myself with my eyes wide open indirectly telling Nancy to stop talking.

"I just felt like she doesn't like me, ever since I met Bella she has always been giving me a cold shoulder." No .. No .. No baby it's not like that, right Dolly.

"Thank goodness he knows I don't like him at all he just wants to extract money from her and dump her, if not for the respect I have for myself and my friend then I would have beaten this man up. What's the worst that could happen, spend two or three days at the cell no.. no .. no Bella you can't afford to be at the cell for mom's sake." Dolly. Nancy called out to Bella holding her shoulder. Yes ... No... I meant yes I like him very very very very much. I told you my friend likes you a lot, Nicholas. Now get that thought of her not liking you out of your head.

"Hmmm, please excuse me I need to use the restroom. I said in a way to escape looking at that pig face." Ok, Dolly but please don't stay long. "How rude," Bella said to Nancy walking away in the direction of the exit. That's the way out Bella. Nancy said. I know... I know. Bella replied and finally exited the restaurant.

"Haa thank goodness am outside or else I would have just puked on his face. Yes I know he's handsome but he is also a cheat. I decided to take a stroll around and took a break to rest when I felt something on my leg I flinched in fear and later calm down after realizing it was a woman. Bella looked at the woman sitting on the floor in surprise she looked like a woman in her mid-fifties.

"Hello, ma'am. How may I help you?" Bella said looking around terrified at the sudden silence not even a single car was moving."Please am in need of money, I want to sell this to you in exchange for money." Bella looked at the woman in awe as she brought out a shapeless white stone.

"What is this?" This... This is no ordinary stone, with this stone you can see the moon clearly and see the full sun without melting.

And what does that mean? Bella asked with curiosity. Please buy this stone I really can't start naming the wonders this stone can do for you. "If this stone could do wonders as you have said then why do you want to sell it out?." It's also not easy for me to sell it but there are more important things than this. Really? Bella asked collecting the stone from the woman, the stone glowed with Bella's touch making it look so adorable and hypnotizing. "I don't know why I have taken interest in this stone and why did it just glow?." Then you must buy it, it can even give you that thing you desire and there is no problem I think the stone considers you as its real owner.

"That even made Bella more determined to buy the stone." How much? Hundred dollars. "That cheap for a precious stone." Ok here is two hundred dollars you can take it and keep the change bye. Bella said and hurriedly left holding the stone so tightly like her life depended on it. The woman looked at Bella holding the stone with tears in her eyes "I will never forget about you." The old woman said and tried to call out to Bella.

Miss..miss. I should quickly run after her and warn her of the dangers around that stone and her new enemies now that the stone is in her possession.

I quickly ran to the restaurant and finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, I wonder how many hours I used back there." Bella looked at her watched and scratched her neck sheepishly. "Maybe I did take a little time, but what's the worst that can happen, she will give me a questioning look, she will bombard me with lots of questions and she will make me sprout out everything once we get to the car." Bella smiled satisfied with her thought and went inside the restaurant. "Hope you didn't miss me too much Nan?" No .. No .. No she didn't, I was here to keep my babe company.

Bella eyed Nicholas and mimicked him secretly. I picked up my bag and kept the stone and that was when I felt it. I felt her gaze on me." I wonder how long she has been staring at me?" I looked up and meet her staring at me with a questioning look.

"Nicholas we need to start leaving, I have a meeting in the next two hours so I need to leave, you can continue with the work you came for." Are you sure baby? Yes am very much sure, Dolly let's go.

"Can I at least drip you home?" No worries Nicholas I bought my car. Nancy took Bella's hand and they both left the restaurant. "Is your boyfriend deaf?" What do you mean by is my boyfriend deaf? I mean you told him you were leaving and he was asking if you were sure. He is such a fool. "Bella, don't," Nancy said entering the car so did Bella. "Ok, if you don't want me to talk then, there is no problem."

"What was that you kept inside your bag?." It's nothing Nancy, it's not more important than your meeting. I have no meetings am attending. I just wanted all my questions answered. "Why don't you like Nicholas, where did you go to and what did you put inside your bag." Nancy that's three questions in a roll. I want you to answer all of them. Ok, I will answer all your questions except why I don't like Nicholas. Nancy looked at Bella with a defeated look and Bella shrugged. "Ok, start talking."

"Hmm, first I went outside to take a stroll and decided to rest then I met a woman who wanted to sell a precious stone in exchange for money which I bought for two hundred dollars." "What!!! Did you buy a stone for two hundred dollars? Are you crazy or what?" Why are you saying this Nan? You of all people shouldn't complain. You own a lot and yet you are complaining over such a little amount of money. "Oh! Now I see because I own a lot. But it doesn't make me stupid because I wouldn't even give such to buy a stone. Bella think! Think! Where the hell do they sell stone? Have never heard of such in my life." She said it was precious. And the stone even glows."What!! A stone glow? Is it a diamond?" No, it's not, it's a stone Nan. "I want to see the stone." No, I won't show you. You will throw it out of the window. "No I won't throw it out of the window I promise you, so please show me the stone." You already promise and you shouldn't break it. Bella bought out the stone and showed it to Nancy. "Why isn't it glowing?." I don't know, but am sure it glowed when I held it before. You can get a stone here and there and even inside my shoes. Nancy bent down to take her shoe and brought out the stone inside it. "You see I even have one in my shoe." And how did it get there? "Don't blame me. There are lots of stones around so I can't always avoid it." Whatever let's just leave. Where are we going to? Your house. Why my house? If you come to my house then I know you just want to gossip with my mom. No, I wouldn't do that, I will only tell her how you spent two hundred dollars on a stone, don't stress me we are going to your house. Nancy ignited the car and was about to drive when a woman blocked her view. "What!!" Both Nancy and Bella said looking shocked. "You see Dolly, this is how the accidents happen and they blame the driver. I will sue this woman if she doesn't have anything reasonable to justify what she just did." Hold on. I think I recognize that lady. She was the one who sold the stone to me.

"Now this is what I call killing two birds with one stone, I will sue her and also get her punished for defrauding you with that stupid stone." No .. No .. No Nan, I volunteered to buy the stone myself she didn't force me, let's hear her out first. Bella and Nancy looked at the woman in front of the car panting. They were about to come out of the car but the woman immediately went to the door and knocked on the window. Nancy whined down and gave the woman a questioning look of what do you want?. I want to see that miss, please. "You mean the one you defrauded?" What!! No ma'am I didn't defraud anybody I only sold the stone to her in exchange for money. Nan, please leave her, I told you she didn't defraud me.

Ma'am, am the one you are looking for. Yes, thank goodness I found you, please can I have a moment of privacy with you? Hold on! She is my friend, say whatever you want today now or else you forget about talking to her. Nan, please I will explain everything to you later. You know I love you right? Bella opened the door and went out to meet the woman. Don't take your time Bella. Ok, I won't. Bella and the woman walked a little further away from Nancy's ears. Am sorry for my friend's behavior. She only did that because of the stone. Do you wish to return it? "No ... No .. No ma'am I admire it and I will keep it no matter what." That's why am here to warn you about the dangers of the stone. "The stone? What dangers are there in the stone." Like I told you, the stone is very precious than you think. There are lots of people who want that stone, lots of spiritual people. So right now that this stone is in your possession "YOU ARE IN DANGER."