Page 5 of Rough Love

Sage looked over at Laura who stood before him. She had rosy cheeks with a huge grin on her face. She was dressed in a white dress that made her skin glow as well as her hair.

"How are you doing, Sage?" she asked as she looked at him. Her face soon looked confused as she took in the look across his face.

"I'm just really confused. I felt like we had let each other go but you seem to always come back," he said, frustration filling his voice. He already knew he was dreaming. The Laura in front of him looked nothing like the Laura he had seen a few hours ago when he had been awake.

The person before him was the Laura he remembered. Her face was framed by her black hair and her blue eyes sparkled in the light.

"What do you mean I keep coming back? I mean I don't ask to be in your dreams, Sage," she replied defensively. They had both gotten used to the fact that they would meet in his dreams and they had both been completely aware that it was just a dream.

"I know that, Laura, and that's not what I'm talking about. There is a woman that has shown up and is claiming to be you," he said. He shook his head as he finished his sentence. He was still in shock about what had happened.

“Well, that's impossible. We both know I'm dead, Sage. I didn't make it. You don't believe her, do you?" she asked.

Sage knew he would be stupid to believe the woman who was claiming to be Laura.

“No, I don't believe her. I remember what happened and from my memory, there is no way she could be telling the truth," he replied. It was hard for him to speak like that to the person he had always hoped had made it out despite all odds but he knew and so did she that it wasn't possible.

"I'm truly sorry this is happening to you, Sage, it can't be easy for you and I wish there was something I could do. The only thing I can say is that whatever that woman says to you is a lie and you should not believe her for a second," she said. Her voice grew sterner as she finished her sentence, making sure he understood how serious she was about it all.

"I can promise you now that I won't believe her. There are just too many flaws in her story.” Sage went on to explain the story she had told him while Laura sat wide-eyed in front of him. Once he was done, a laugh escaped her lips.

"That story sounds so ridiculous," she said as she tried to keep more laughter from coming out of her mouth. Sage smiled at her, also becoming aware of just how ludicrous the story sounded now that he had said it all out loud.

"It does sound extremely crazy, doesn't it?” he said. And the more he thought about it the bigger the joke became. It was a cruel joke but one he could in no way take seriously. He knew that when he woke up he would have to set the record straight. But while he was with Laura in his dream they continued to chat and joke around. Carefree and happy.

He woke up more sure of himself than he had when he had gone to bed. He knew in his heart that Laura had died and no matter what anyone said, there was no way she would've shown up now with a completely new face.

Sage woke up to an empty bed. He could understand that everything that had happened could be too much for Mia. He just hoped that she wouldn't think too much of it. There would be no reason for her to worry, he would never leave her, especially for someone who claimed to be someone she most definitely was not. Sage still couldn't believe that the woman who claimed to be Laura could actually be Laura and he would prove it, not only to himself but to Mia too because he knew it would ease her mind.

He decided to leave her. He didn't want to disturb her because he knew she would need her time and space but being apart from her really didn't feel good to him and he wanted to be with her. He realized more than ever that he wanted to be with Mia and even if the woman really was Laura, he wouldn't leave. He had loved her in the past, he couldn't deny that, but he had moved on and he had earned the right to be happy with someone after all the time he had spent grieving which was a lot longer than he had thought it would take. He had cut himself off from feeling anything for anyone for so long after the bombing, he had held onto the guilt and pain of it all but he had finally found someone he could picture a future with. A new future, a future that he could have more control over and one that wouldn't just disappear in front of him. He knew he wasn't ready to think about marriage and kids but it could be something he'd be willing to talk about later on. He could picture himself having kids with Mia, he knew he loved her that much.

He sat in the kitchen thinking while he drank his morning cup of coffee. He had denied himself of true happiness for so long that denying himself any longer just seemed too stupid. He didn't want anything to keep him from living his life the way he wanted to. He didn't deserve to have all of his hopes and dreams snatched away from him just as he had accepted everything.

The thought of being with Mia brought a smile to his face and he knew he would have to sort out the Laura mess as soon as possible so it wouldn't become a problem for them. He didn't like the fact that Mia had been so distant and withdrawn the night before. He knew she appreciated him being honest and open with her, he could see it on her face before they went to bed, but also knew that she was threatened. He had seen it in her eyes when he had explained he had loved Laura and he had felt it when he tried to hold her. Even after she had sunk into his hug she had been reserved, stiff and almost cold. He could understand why but he didn't want them to backtrack. After all, it had taken a lot for them to get to where they were and he would hate for that to be ruined.

He started his shower, allowing the hot water to steam up the room before he got in. He savored his shower as he allowed his muscles to relax beneath the hot water. The tension had already started to build in his back and shoulders and he wanted it to be gone. He tried not to let himself get worked up all over again. It wouldn't do anyone any good, especially him when he had a mystery to solve. He knew he had to play his cards right. There would be questions he could ask that could give him the answers he needed and if Lorraine messed up at any point he would know for a fact that she wasn't Laura. He knew he didn't need to know if she was being truthful or not, a part of him didn't care. He had moved on from his past and had let it go but he wanted to make sure that once he closed the door on his past, there were no stones that were left unturned.

He stepped out of the shower, toweled himself dry and got dressed in a white shirt and black jeans. He wanted to look like he was ready for business. He would not take the situation lightly at all and he wanted Lorraine to see that. He walked out of the house, locking up behind him so he could make sure Mia was safe in his absence. She was still nowhere to be seen when he left. He got onto his bike, needing the opportunity to feel free as he rode his way to the bar. Unlike Mia, he had no idea where Lorraine lived so he would have to get her address from someone at the bar. Someone should know considering she had been there a few times. Maybe Mia hadn't been the first one to take her home after one of her drinking benders. The thought of Lorraine drinking also didn't sit well with Sage. Laura had never been a big drinker when he had known her so it didn't make sense that she would now spend most of her time getting drunk at a bar all by herself. He allowed himself to remember some of his past, just enough so he could use it to help solve who the woman was and why she had shown up.

He didn't want to think too much about his past, it had been too much for him to work through and he didn't want to have to deal with it all again. The thought of remembering small and intimate details about Laura was already changing his mood. He needed answers and he needed them quickly. His life had turned around for the better and the thought of Mia ignoring him broke his heart. There was no way he could go around the situation other than talking to Lorraine. She was the only person who held all the answers and as he entered the bar to ask Mike if he had her address, a sense of dread came over him.

He had a quick conversation with Mike before he thanked him for Laura's address and then made his way to her house. He needed to find out more information from her before he accepted anything she said.

He knocked on her door and was greeted by a much more sober-looking woman. She didn't smell of alcohol and she didn't look like she was a crazy drunk. She was an attractive woman so it confused Sage that she would try to pretend to be someone else other than her true self.

"Sage, I'm so glad you showed. I was getting worried you wouldn't come," she gushed as she let him in.

"I'm not here because I believe you so don't get your hopes up. I'm only here for more answers," he said. His voice was stern and strong; he didn't want to play any games.

"Of course, I understand," she replied, "you can ask me whatever you want."

She gestured for him to take a seat on her couch while she sat down on the couch opposite. He thought it wise that she was keeping a certain distance between them.

He had a few basic questions in mind that he wanted to ask her.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked.

"Blue, the color of your eyes, of course," she replied. He remembered how much Laura used to say she loved blue, the blue of his eyes and the blue of the sky.