[ WP ] Write a story of a person whose dreams continue a single story each night .

''It's you!'' Sarah's face lit up with a smile that flashed quickly from her lips to her eyes and back again. She hated it when I was away, and every time I walked back in the front door she had the ability to make me feel like some lost hero, returning to his true love from exile, war or shipwreck. 
 
 I seated myself at the table while she fussed around me, laying out cutlery and dishes, steeping tea and piling fresh baked rolls into a wicker basket. The kitchen was aglow with a warm orange light from the hearth and the air smelt of cinnamon and cloves. Sarah seated herself next to me, took my hand in hers, and chatted away merrily about her day, her sister, her baking. The hours ticked by until the moon was high above us and we retired to her cosy room to sleep. As I lay there with her hair across my chest I felt completely at peace, and held her nestled in the crook of my arm until it was time to leave for the grey monotony of work. I was already counting down the hours until I would be back. 
 
 - 
 
 Home again. Walking down the flagstones I spotted Sarah bent over a pot in the corner of her garden. A light breeze picked at the hem of her blue cotton dress, making it dance playfully against the backs of her knees. Choosing my steps carefully I crept up behind her, swept her amber hair over her shoulder and laid a faint kiss on the nape of her neck. She smelled of lavender and soil and musk. She let out a quiet sigh and raised her hand to run it across my cheek. We had the whole night and everything was perfect. 
 
 - 
 
 Unknotting my tie I chased Sarah down a sandy trail, sparse trees giving way to wide open sands until the glitter of waves and horizon were all around us. She was laughing as she ran into the waves, flicking water back at me with a twinkle in her eye. Ripping off my work shirt I bashfully followed, catching up with her as the waves hit knee high. I grabbed her around the waist and we both went tumbling into the surf, giggling and spluttering in equal measures as the waves washed around us on the beach. We lay down and let the orange glow envelope us and as the sun set into the sea, swearing we would stay up all night to watch the stars. I lost all track of time and was several hours late for work the next morning, but that did n't matter. 
 
 - 
 
 Work finally over I returned. Snowy slopes and the scent of pine surrounded me. An animal snuffled in the distant undergrowth. No. This was wrong. Where was she? I pressed my eyes firmly closed and tried again. 
 
 - 
 
 I opened my eyes. A work meeting, my boss was giving a presentation and a strange thick mist was creeping under the door. No. Try again. 
 
 - 
 
 Standing on top of the Empire State Building. 
 
 - 
 
 Standing up in class and realising I was naked. 
 
 - 
 
 Exploring a massive abandoned theme park 
 
 - 
 
 Going for a drive with my parents. 
 
 - 
 
 Standing in a crowded room unable to make out what anyone is saying. 
 
 - 
 
 No. No orange light, no blue dress, no amber hair. No Sarah. I opened my eyes and took in the dimly lit surroundings of my bedroom, the piles of dirty washing, the ticking clock on the bedside table. 11:52PM. It was over. She was gone.
