The Sight of Her

Ellen’s eyes opened. She stared at the roof of her room, sweat dripping down her forehead.

"Ellen?" Mrs. Grater called her.

The voice that called to her was her mom. "Mom?"

"What are you doing here?" Ellen asked as she rolled out of bed.

"You were murmuring in your sleep and wouldn’t wake up," Mrs. Grater told her as she searched Ellen’s face.

Ellen closed her eyes and flipped her right hand through her tousled hair. She turned to her mom and said, "I’m fine, mom. I was just very tired."

Ellen forced a smile to alleviate her mother’s concern as she stood up and escorted her to the door.

"Go get your pretty sleep, mom. I’ll see you in the morning, okay." Ellen told her as she opened the door.

Mrs. Grater looked less concerned because of the smile on Ellen’s face. "Okay," she replied, and she hugged Ellen as she left the room.

"I guess Luke got to me more than I want to admit to myself," Ellen muttered, shivering at the thought of the dream as she went back to bed.

"Leo had bee