I closed my eyes, determined to find the answers, to find the truth.
The dream, the forest, the deer with the emerald crystal.They were all part of a puzzle, and I was determined to solve it.
"Zerah, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Harton voice, filled with concern, startled me.What was he talking about?
"No, I'm totally fine. Why?" I said, trying to sound casual.
"Your friend told me you suddenly passed out after the tour," he explained, his eyes wide with worry.
Pass out? I didn't. Did I? "No, I'm... I don't know," I stammered, feeling a wave of confusion wash over me.
"But I'm fine. Why are you so worried?"
"Of course, I... I'm..." he stammered, his cheeks flushing a rosy red.
What? He cared about me? Wow.
"I'm sorry, but I need to prepare for school," I said with a shy smile.
"But it's the weekend," he said, looking confused. Oh no, I'd forgotten about that.
I needed something to excuse myself.
"If you're available today, can we have a picnic?" Ha, he was asking me for a picnic.
"Um, sure, come in," I said, stepping aside to let him into my room.
Harton walked in and sat down on the couch.
"If you didn't pass out, then how did you manage to get home?" Oh, really, asking me about it again.
"I... I don't remember," I said, feeling a sudden wave of unease.
It was true. I didn't remember how I got home. It was as if a part of that day had been erased from my memory.
I had to find out what happened. I had to find that deer, find the emerald crystal, and unlock the secrets of my past.
But for now, I needed to focus on the present. I needed to figure out what was going on with this boy, with this unexpected picnic invitation.
Maybe this was a chance to learn more about him, to understand what he was thinking. Maybe it was a chance to figure out what was happening to me.
I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. I was going to find out the truth, no matter what.
"Just a second, I'm dressing up." Since my maid was out, I had to do my own hair and makeup.
It was something I used to do all the time, so it wasn't a big deal.
"You keep the handkerchief I gave you," Harton said, his voice soft.
Huh? What was he talking about? "Oh, that one, of course," I replied, trying not to sound too confused. I couldn't remember when he gave it to me.
Finally, I was done. I slowly walked towards him, my confidence growing with each step.
"So, how do I look?" I asked with a playful smile.
"You look gorgeous," he said, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
Gorgeous? I'd expected him to say cute.
"Don't lie," I said, my voice teasing.
"I know it's not true. Don't say that in front of me. You like my friend, didn't you?"
How could he?
"HAHA, silly girl," he laughed. "I didn't. I just said that to tease you. Wait, are you jealous?"
Jealous? Who? "I'm not jealous," I said, trying to sound unconcerned.
"Why would I be? Anyway, let's go."
I knew I was being defensive, but I couldn't help it. I didn't want to admit that I was even a little bit jealous.
But the truth was, I didn't know what to think.
Harton was charming, handsome, and undeniably attractive. He was everything a girl could want. And he was interested in me. But he also seemed to be interested in my friend.
It was confusing, and it was making me feel a little bit uneasy. I needed to figure out what was going on, but for now, I was just going to enjoy the picnic.
We stepped out into the sunshine, the world a blur of colors and sounds. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head.
I needed to focus on the present, on the moment.
I needed to forget about the mysteries of my past, the deer with the emerald crystal, and the strange things that had been happening to me.
I needed to enjoy this picnic, this moment with Harton.
Maybe it would help me to understand him, to understand myself.  Maybe it would help me to find the answers I was looking for.
The picnic by the lake was idyllic. Sunlight dappled through the leaves of the giant tree, creating a mosaic of light and shadow on the ground.
The air was filled with the scent of wildflowers and the gentle lapping of water against the shore. It was a place I could have dreamt of my entire life.
"I like this place," I said, my voice filled with contentment.
"It's so peaceful. I could come here every day. Thanks for taking me here, Harton."
All my worries, my anxieties, my confusion about my past and my present, seemed to melt away in the tranquility of this place. It was magical.
"You're welcome," Harton replied, his smile warm and genuine.
"I used to come here whenever I had a problem. My grandfather took me here.
He said someday you would take someone you like to be with you forever. He met Grandma in this place, and they planted this tree. It's memorable. You're the only one I've taken here."
Wait. So Harton liked me? He wanted to be with me forever?
"Harton, we've known each other since we were young. Why didn't you take me here back then?"
"I was scared to express my thoughts and feelings,"
he said, his voice low and hesitant.
"I didn't know how. That's why I didn't do it. I'm sorry."
He looked so sad, so sincere. I believed him.
"It's fine," I said, reaching out to take his hand.
"At least you took me here now. Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. I believe you."
We sat in comfortable silence, watching the sky and the birds flying above. It was a moment of shared peace and understanding.
After the picnic, as we walked home together, the deer's words echoed in my mind.
"Young lady, listen to me. You need to go into the Enchanted Forest. You have a mission. I will be waiting for you in the golden tree."
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
The deer, usually so wise and gentle, had spoken with an urgency I hadn't heard before.
And the golden tree? What did that even mean? I had no memories of a golden tree, no recollection of ever being in the Enchanted Forest.
But something inside me, a deep, primal instinct, told me that I needed to go.
That I needed to find the deer, to understand his message, to fulfill my destiny.
I glanced at Harton, his hand resting lightly on mine.
He was so kind, so loving. He was everything I had ever wanted. But the deer's words had planted a seed of doubt, a whisper of a different path.
"Harton," I began, my voice hesitant.
"I need to go somewhere. I need to go to the Enchanted Forest."
I knew what his reaction would be. He would be worried, confused.
He wouldn't understand. But I had to go. I had to find the answers.
I had to fulfill my destiny, even if it meant leaving everything I knew behind.
Wait! And then I woke up. It was just a dream? It felt so real.