I sit up straight in my bed, my chest heaving.
Tears are running down my face and splashing on my sweatshirt.
Raspberry stirs beside me, then opens her eyes.
She reaches over to the table and clicks the lamp on. "What's wrong?"
I throw my arms around her and cry into her shoulder.
"It was just a dream," She whispers into my hair. "It wasn't real."
"Yes it was. It was Ashlynn. She was dying. Where's Augustine? I promised to take care of him."
She points across the room to where Augustine is lying in his little house.

Oh, no. 

He's dead. 

I can't get out of the bed.
Raspberry has the covers tucked into the mattress.
I finally get out of the warm nest and bang my chin and elbow on the hard floor, wincing, but getting up quickly to run to my sweet little rat.
I pick him up and his eyes open quickly.
He looks around, his nose twitching rapidly.
I kiss his soft head repeatedly, and the tears start flowing again.
He was asleep.
I pick up his blanket and wrap it around him extra tight, then place him back in his bed made of old hospital mattress topper.
He stares up at me until his eyes close and he goes to sleep, like he's worried about me.
I put the lid back on his house loosely and return to my cousin, who looks concerned. "Are you okay?"
I nod and crawl back under the still warm blankets, holding Arden tightly.
She turns the light back off and pulls me closer.
I squeeze my eyes shut and hope I don't see any more dead girls tonight.

My room smells wonderful.
I open my eyes and a tray of belgian waffles cut out like hearts and covered in whipped cream, cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, fruit and glasses of milk is sitting on my bedside table.
Raspberry is smiling at me.
I sit up and look over at Augustine, who is sniffing profusely.
I smile back at Raspberry and slide out of bed, wrapping my arms around her.
She kisses my cheek. "Good morning, happy Valentine's Day."
I giggle. "Happy Valentine's Day."