I could of sworn I saw my mother, who I had only seen in photographs, walk past me as I scanned for a book in one of the aisles of the public library.

Forgetting about the book, I quickly followed pursuit, trying to chase the lady that looked like my mother.

I turned the corner into the walkway and to my surprise, I wasn't in the library anymore. I was in the backyard of my house and it was summer. The flowers were blooming and the apple tree that my dad had planted long ago was full of fresh green leaves. I saw a woman crouched down next to the flower bed. She was bent over with some gardening tools creating small holes in the ground for the pink and red daises next to her. Even though I couldn't see her face, I had a gut feeling who it might be.

"Hello? ..... Mom?"

As she turned her head, the straw hat she was wearing gave way, revealing a pale pretty face that resembled my own. Her soft brown eyes warmed as her lips curled up into a smile.

"Samantha." She sounded surprised although she seemed pleased to see me.

I took a step towards her, but she shook her head.

"No, Sammy. It's not time yet. You need to go back," she said as she slid the gardening gloves off of her hands.

"What do you mean 'not time'?", I asked.

It must of been some sort of weird dream that I was having. Why else would I be jumping from place to place and seeing my dead mother?

She was now fully facing me, but the sun was blinding the view and I could hardly make out her features anymore.

"You need to go back and find him." There was a pleading tone behind the demand.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

While I watched the scene around us change again, it finally clicked. I wasn't dreaming. The green grass, blue skies and the fresh pink daises swirled into a vibrant rainbow until it faded into nothingness.

Now, we were in a dark corridor with the only source of light coming from behind my mother and a wooden door behind me.

"Mom...," I sniffled.

My mom, the one I've been longing to meet all my life, was standing right in front of me. I've always wondered how she would look like, how her voice sounds and how she feels. Here she is now and I can't even make a coherent sentence.

"Mom, I...How..."

I had so much to say, but was lost in a sea of emotions that I didn't know were bottled up inside of me. I didn't know where to begin. What should I ask her first?

She began before I could finish. "There's not much time Sammy. You need to go and find him."

Her brows knitted as she said the word "him".

"Who?," I asked, not having a clue who she could mean. I didn't have anyone in the real world. There was no one I had left behind.

She seemed surprised that I didn't know.

"Your father of course. He needs you still Sammy. You need to go back. If you stay here too long, you wont be able to return, " she pleaded.

Now I was really confused.

"But Dad passed away a long time ago. Around 8 years ago. And I still have so many questions and I just want to stay here for a while with you. Im finally able to meet you. I can't just go back."

My mom stifled a laugh behind her hand.

"You remind me of your father so much Sammy. And I know we have a lot of catching up to do, but that'll have to wait until the far future, Sweetie. Your father is still out there. He's looking for you. Please hurry and go back before it's too late. I'll always be here for you Sammy. It doesn't matter if I have to wait 50 more years. We will meet again. I promise you."

Her eyes that were clouded with worry were now clearer and brighter as she gave me a warm smile. She pointed to the door behind me and made a shooing motion towards it.

I took one more look at my mother who waved me off with all the love she could offer me from the distance. Her teary eyes were the reminder that she too was heartbroken from this bittersweet encounter.

As I opened the door to return to the living world, I could hear a beeping sound in the distant. When I stepped over the threshold of the door, the sound became louder as my mom and the corridor vanished in an instant.

My soul was being sucked back into my body and there was no escape from the fear and darkness that surrounded me.

Flashbacks of the accident began flooding my memories.

The Bridge.

The Gas Station.

The girl.

The river.

The girl.

Was she okay?

I needed to know.