She was home just for the summer and planned to do as much as possible while at her family’s ranch.  It had been a long and exhausting day working with the horse she’d had since she was a child.  They had enjoyed many pleasant trails and the warmth of the sunny day.  Later her family had a barbeque and everyone had come to see her.  She was exhausted.

Willa had just gotten out of the shower, drying her dark brown hair with a thick towel.  She was dressed for bed, shorts and a tank top.  As she sat on her old bed with its flowery quilt she noticed just how much she had changed since going off to college.  There were boy band posters, horse posters, and pictures with friends adorning the walls – which were painted a soft lilac color.  White vanity and dresser sat at the side of the room.  It looked just the same as it always had.

She quietly laughed to herself as she dropped the towel into a hamper, grabbed a thick hoodie and went downstairs.  Her family had gone to bed by this point.  Willa took a beer from the fridge and went out onto the wrap around porch.  She popped open the beverage before sitting on the swing bench.  One of her feet touched the cool wood and helped to move her as she sipped.

The sky was clear and filled to the brim with stars.  It was easy to forget just how many were out there when she was in the city.  Across the way was the neighbor’s corn crop.  She could hear the horses whinnying and settling down for the evening.  Nothing much had seemed to change with the house and ranch.  She was the one who was different.

About to finish her beer she noticed a strange light in the sky.  Willa’s eye narrowed as she tried to make out the luminous shape.  It seemed to zip here and there – much different from a plane.  She stood and leaned against the railing of the porch.  The object got bigger and bigger.  Willa felt a chill settle in her stomach.  Whatever it was, that thing was not natural.

She abandoned the beer and rushed into the house, making sure to lock the door.  As if that was going to keep whatever was coming out.  It made her feel better though.  Taking the stairs two at a time she dove into her room, closed the door as quietly as possible, and slipped into bed.  She pulled the covers over her head as the light from the object shone through the window.  [color=bc8dbf][b]‘”I’m dreaming,”[/b][/color] she whispered.  [color=bc8dbf][b]“I’ve got to be dreaming…”[/b][/color]