1 The Known Stranger

"Ooooowweee!!!" a four year old Claire screamed after she tripped and fell off some of her toys. The boy ran towards her. He looked taller and older than Claire, he was probably eight or nine years old. "Claire, are you hurt?" He asked her. "Yes, it hurts but I'm a big girl now, so I won't cruay." She said. "Good girl! Since you've promised not to cry I'll marry you when you grow up." Aiden told her. Claire's eyes widened in excitement. "Well Claire don't you want you marry me when you're all grown up?" Aiden asked Claire while gently massaging her ankle to relieve her of the pain. Claire was silent, acting shy and occasionally stealing a glance at Aiden. Aiden smiled, fascinated by her body language. "Alright then, hop on and let me send you back to your parents." Aiden bends down motioning for Claire to get unto his back so he can carry her back inside the house. Claire puts her arm around his neck for support, and then pushes herself up, unto his back. Aiden gently raises her legs to stabilize her and then starts walking out of the garage. Claire, while enjoying her piggyback ride, moves her hands from his neck, wraps her arms around his ribs and tilts her head sideways so she can sleep. Aiden smiles, surprised by how quickly she has warmed up to him. He walks slowly and steadily towards the entrance of Claire's house, carefully opening the door. Claire and Aiden's parents busily chatting in the parlor, spot Aiden with Claire at his back. "Oh my! What happened?" Claire's mum, Elyse Macauly, asked. "Did she fall?" "You've done well to have carried her this far" "Are you tired?" "Sit down" The ceaseless chatter of Claire and Aiden's parents wakes Claire up. She lifts her head to look at everyone. Her eyes still in a dreamy state. "Ooooh she was asleep." Mrs. Macauly explains. Elyse Macauly walks towards Aiden, takes Claire from him, and thanks him for taking good care of her daughter. Claire now seated by her mum whispers in her mum's ears "Mommeey, I want to marry A****." Elyse can't hide her look of surprise. Now she wants everyone to hear what she just heard. "What was that Claire? Can you say that a little louder?" "I want to marry A****, he promised to marry me if I don't cruay." Claire replies. Both families are in shock. Mr. Macallister, Aiden's dad can't hide his amazement and amusement. "Well this is a pleasant surprise. We've succeeded in becoming in-laws" He says. Claire hides her face in her mother's armpit, she didn't realise everyone was listening to her innocent conversation with her mum. Everyone bursts into laughter because of Claire's coyness. "Well A**** what do you have to say about this?" Mr. Macallister asks his son. "Well dad, I made a promise and I intended to keep it." Aiden replies smiling. "That's my boy." The parents continue to chat, laugh and eat. Suddenly everything starts to fade with noise of laughter in the background. Claire shrieks and is jolted out of bed by her dream, panting heavily and in a cold sweat. Claire wakes up confused by this dream she continues to have, a dream that seems like a happy memory but feels like a nightmare. A dream about a boy she's supposed to know but can't seem to remember. A known stranger. "If I could just hear his name in my dream, then at least I'd have made some progress." She says to herself. "There are so many names that start with A so this doesn't help at all. I can't even tell if this is a memory or a fantasy. It'll sound really silly to ask my mum about this if I'm not sure this memory or dream, really happened. Who are you mystery boy? Or should I say mystery man, since we're all grown up now? Wherever you are, whomever you are, if you are real, I hope you find me, because I'm trying really hard to find you."