It was a bright Saturday afternoon. Amelia was sitting in her parents’ living room playing the piano. In the middle of Mozart’s 15^th sonata her mother’s voice broke into her thoughts.

“Dear, would you run to the grocery store and get me a carton of milk? I’m almost out and I need another cup for this recipe.”

Save-a-lot was only a few blocks away and it was a nice day for a walk so she readily agreed. She got some money from her father and walked up to the store. She selected the milk her mother preferred and took her place in the checkout line. Just as she was handing the clerk a five-dollar bill her eye caught a flash in the doorway. Looking up she saw a man wearing black and holding a knife disappear out the door.

“Ma’am?” she looked back at the clerk who was holding her change. Absently she pocketed it. The man was probably on his way to a costume party somewhere. Or maybe he was trying out his Halloween costume. Or maybe he was an actor in costume. It was silly to think otherwise. She put the receipt in the bag with the milk and walked through the glass doors. Just behind them, lurking, was the man in black. It was Brian. Before she could cry out he stabbed her.

She saw herself lying in the parking lot around the corner of the building in the parking lot, not the same place they had been standing before. She saw him pull off his gloves and drop them in the dumpster behind them. Then he ran into the store crying-

“Help! Murder! He went that way…”

II

It was a bright Saturday afternoon. Amelia was sitting in her parents’ living room playing the piano. Something felt strange about this day. She opened her book of Mozart and began playing the 15^th Sonata. Suddenly she stopped, the terror of her dream sweeping over her. He mother’s voice broke into her thoughts.

“Dear, would you run to the grocery store and get me a carton of milk? I’m almost out and I need another cup for this recipe.”

Cold dread swept over Amelia. She put her hands in her lap and didn’t answer.

“Amelia?” her mother’s voice came louder, “Did you hear me?”

She wanted to scream, wanted to run somewhere, disappear where he could never find her.

“Amelia!” the voice came closer and her mother appeared in the doorway. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t want to go.” She blurted out, “I’m afraid.”

“Afraid of what? It’s a beautiful day dear, a perfect day for a walk. It won’t take long.”

“I dreamt this day last night.” She said dully; already her fate was sealed. “He’s going to murder me, when I get there.”

“Who?”

Her mother asked with more curiosity than alarm.

“Brian.”

“Oh, Dear, Brian left three years ago. He’s in Mexico somewhere. You know that. The police told you so.”

“I dreamt last night that he would murder me today, when I went to buy you a carton of milk.” She said stubbornly.

“Oh come dear. It was just a bad dream. It won’t happen. The only way to banish fear is to face it. Go on now, like a good girl.”

She bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry.

“No.”

“I’m going to have to tell your father.”

“I don’t care.”

Her mother sighed and went back through the kitchen to her father’s study. A few minutes later they came back together, her mother worried, her father stern.

“Amelia,” he said, “Your mother says she asked you to get a carton of milk for her and you refused.”

“Yes, I’m afraid.”

“Of what? It’s a beautiful day!”

“Of Brian. He’s waiting for me.”

“Nonsense. The police chased him to the border of Mexico. He’s not coming back.”

“I dreamt…”

“Dreams are rubbish dear. Fantasies. Nothing to them. I’ll prove it to you. We’ll go together. Get your purse dear.”

Amelia obeyed, her heart lifting. If her father was there with her Brian wouldn’t dare attack. Save-a-lot was only a few blocks away and it was a nice day for a walk.

When they reached the store her father suddenly caught sight of an old friend across the aisle.

“Here Amelia.” He said, “Go get your mother’s milk. Paddy and I are going out for coffee.”

“But daddy…” she whispered hopelessly; he thrust some money in her hand and abandoned her in the produce aisle. There was nowhere to run, Brian was outside. The store was practically deserted.

She selected the milk her mother preferred and took her place in the checkout line. Just as she was handing the clerk a five-dollar bill her eye caught a flash in the doorway. Looking up she saw a man wearing black and holding a knife disappear out the door.

“Ma’am?” she looked back at the clerk who was holding her change.

“Call the police.” She whispered urgently.

“Ma’am?” he repeated, confused,

The man was probably on his way to a costume party somewhere. Or maybe he was trying out his Halloween costume. Or maybe he was an actor in costume. It was silly to think otherwise, but the dream of the night before hung heavily on her.

“Call the police.” She whispered, “There’s a man outside, he’s waiting to kill me.”

“Oh please.” The clerk laughed, “I saw no one. Why would anyone be here to kill you?”

“He’s my boyfriend.” She explained, “Three years ago he proposed marriage and I refused him. He threatened to kill me and after the first attempt the police pursued him to the Mexican border. But he’s back now, I saw him! He has a knife!”

“Let’s go see.” The skeptical clerk said. He put the receipt in the bag with the milk and walked her to the door.

“See? No one here.”

Relieved, Amelia thanked him and took her bag. Just around the corner of the building, going home was the man in black. It was Brian. Before she could cry out he stabbed her. As the world spun around her and she fell she saw the dumpster and the parking lot, just as it had been in the dream. Then her world went black; forever.

Brian pulled off his gloves and threw them in the dumpster, a smug smile on his face. Then he screamed and ran into the store yelling-

“Help! Murder! He went that way…”