Authors note: Jack Kelly belongs to Disney, everyone else I made up. Um... if you haven't read the first one, Dreams to Dream, you might want to read it before you read this. Anyway, here is the story.. sort of.

Shattered Dreams
By: Echo (Aka: Cowgirl)

Sandra Fuller walked into her apartment and smiled, her boyfriend, Christian Kelly, had just proposed, on what could possibly be the happiest day of her life. Sandra was rather tall, with long brown hair and green eyes. Although she had always been an easy-going person, things had taken a turn for the worse when she was about seventeen and hadn't gotten any better. Both her parents had been killed in a fire, she had nearly died herself in an accident, and her friends had either abandoned her or died with the exception of Christian and her best friend, Angela Bentley.

Things had started getting better about a year ago when she had accepted a job at a local paper and when she first met her boyfriend. She still had misfortunes, but now things were starting to look up. It seemed her life was finally getting better, but things aren't always what they seem to be...

~~~***~~~***~~~

I stared our the window at the pouring rain. I looked at my clock on the wall, Christian and Angela were supposed to be here an hour ago but they still hadn't showed. I was starting to get nervous, I had lost too many people I cared about, and I couldn't bear to loose these two. I waited for them until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, and finally let myself fall asleep.

I woke up the next morning and immediately felt uneasy, something had to be wrong. I walked over to the answering machine and pushed play. There were most of the usual messages, from work or neighbors, asking favors or talking about articles. I was starting to relax a little and reached over to turn the machine off when I heard the last message, left by Angela's sister, Elizabeth: "Sandra, are you there? Pick up! It's Angela and Chris, they were in an accident on the way to see you and they're in the hospital. Come quick, it's serious."

I stared at the answering machine in shock. I couldn't understand what I had done to deserve this. I had just started to gain some hope for the future. I grabbed my car keys and ran out the door.

After what seemed like an eternity I finally reached the hospital. I ran to the nurse's station. "Excuse me? Do you know anything about Angela Bentley or Christian Kelly?" I asked a dark-haired nurse.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry miss, I can't help you." She said and rushed off.

I looked around and finally saw Elizabeth sitting in the waiting room. I ran over to her. "How are they?" I asked frantically.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't know. The doctor wants to talk to us in a while. You might as well sit down."

I nodded and sat beside her. We talked quietly while we waited, and even though neither of us talked about the accident, it was what we were both thinking of. Ten minutes later the doctor walked in and sat down across from us. We stared at him in silence. "How are they?" Elizabeth asked, breaking the silence.

He waited a few minutes before answering, which only added to the tension, that was already thick enough to cut with a knife. "I'm sorry. Angela's brain was swollen severly and she had been bleeding internally, there was nothing we could do for her. I'm afraid that Christian won't survive. He is injured very badly and appears to be getting worse."

I could feel my heart breaking, I knew it was the truth, but I didn't want to believe it. How could things go so wrong so quickly? I wanted to cry but I couldn't, it hurt too much. Besides, if I started to cry it would mean that this was all real, but this had to be a nightmare! I was trying my hardest not to cry, but I was failing miserably. Before long I was crying so hard that I couldn't even breathe. I pushed through the group of nurses, patients, and non-patiends standing in the hall and finally managed to get outside into the fresh air. I sat down on the sidewalk and sobbed.

The funeral was on an ironically sunny day. Things had only gotten worse in the past few days, Chris was still alive, but the doctors had lost all hope for him. I watched the funeral in silence and after it was over I went to talk to Angela's family and at about nine o' clock I went home. I stared at the answering machine blankly, just four days ago I had received news of the accident and yesterday my boss had called telling me I had lost my job, I decided not to take my chances with it today.

I walked to my room and changed into an over-sized T-shirt and a pair of shorts and climbed into bed. I stared at the ceiling and tried to fall asleep but all I could think of was Angela and Chris. I tossed and turned all night, but at about two in the morning I finally made a dicision that I was sure would solve all my problems. I walked into the kitchen, stumbling over things that I hadn't been able to see through my tears. I grabbed a knife out of the drawer and fell to my knees, sobbing uncontrollably now. I looked out the window and saw a star shining brightly. I thought immediately of a dream I had ten years ago, which only made me cry harder. After a while I finally decided that this was the only way out, the only way to end all the pain. I wiped away my tears, said a silent prayer, and held the knife to my wrist.

"I wouldn't do dat if I was you, I don't think it's to healthy." A familiar voice said. I jumped and looked up into a pair of deep brown eyes, familiar eyes. I was staring at a man about my age. I knew this person, the eyes, the hair, and even the voice with the heavy New York accent. I backed away slowly. "Who are you?"

He looked at the ground then stared straight into my eyes. "Don't ya rememba' me? I rememba' you."

I looked away. "NO! Go away!" I replied sharply.

He sat down in front of me. "Dat's a lie. Ya do rememba' me... Sandy, it's me, Jack. I know ya rememba' me."

I tried not to cry and shook my head. "No. This can't be happening, not now. Please, go away. I don't know you!"

He shrugged. "Yes ya do. Ya just don't want ta admit it. Ya think it's insane don't ya? Well, sometimes ya just gotta believe, even things dat seem insane. Remember, 'Power to insanity!'?"

I shook my head. "You're insane, you know that?"

He smiled and shook his head. "It's no wonder ya were about ta do dat. You've convinced yerself it's all a dream, right?"

I glared at him. "It was a dream."

"No, day's just what you've made yourself believe. It hurts less dat way. Let me tell ya somethin'. About ten years ago, me an' some o' me pals ended up in dis liddle town in Oklahoma, none of us knew how or why, but we met dese two 16 year old goils. We spent da day wit 'em an' had da time of our lives... Eventually, we had ta go back ta where we came from. But before we left, one of da goils gave me dis silver ring wit dolphins on it ta rememba' her by. Da next day, I was conviced dat it was all a dream until I found da ring. Dat's when I knew it was all real. I ain't fergot yet. So, I'm guessin' dat ya decided it was all a dream da second ya woke up da next day, right?"

I stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds and then shrugged and caved in, this may not be real, but it was a nice dream. "No, I was sure it was real the next day, but eventually I decided that it was just something I had made up. I guess I lost the locket you had won for me."

"Ya lost da locket?"

I nodded. "I don't know why I believed all that time without any proof."

He sighed. "Because back den ya still had yer faith. Now you've grown up and stopped believing da unbelievable."

"Why shouldn't I? Life is so hard, it's just not fair!"

He smiled. "Since when are you a cynic? I seem ta rememba' somethin' a very good friend of mine told me once: 'Some people say that life isn't fair, I say it is only as fair as you make it. If you go through life hoping for the best and looking back on all the good things in life, then your life will seem happy and meaningful. But, if you believe that everything will go wrong and look back on all of your bad experiences, your life will seem pointless and unfair. It's all in your attitude."

I stared at him. "What idiot said that?"

He laughed. "As a matter of fact, you said dat durin' one of our philosophical discussions."

I smiled. "Yeah, I guess I did say that.... I must have been pretty stupid."

He brushed his hair out of his eyes. "No, now you're bein' stupid. Ya were real smart back den. I was in da same position dat your in now ten years ago when I met you.... ya changed all of dat! Dan't ya see dat?"

I looked at him. "But I was wrong Jack! My parents are dead, my only friend in the world in dead and my boyfriend is going to die! Look where all my optimism got me! Nowhere!"

He stared at me. "How do ya know your boyfriend is gonna die?"

I glared at him. "The doctors told me."

"Oh really? Funny, ten years ago ya woulda said dat da doctors were wrong an' dat he would be poifectly fine."

I shrugged. "A lot changes in ten years."

He shook his head. "Maybe, maybe not... have ya thought about da good things? It may not be as bad as it seems."

I smiled cynically. "Right. Like something good is happening in my life. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard."

He shrugged. "You're alive, your boyfriend is still alive, an' he can still get betta'. There's gotta be tons more things ta be happy 'bout. Your life is still worth living whetha' ya know it or not. 'Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginnings. Many fears are born of fatigue and lonliness... Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be... And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all it's sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.'" He quoted solemnly.

"Max Ehrmann, Desiderata... I love that quote. It's sort of something I've tried to live by." I said and smiled.

He grinned. "Dat sounds much betta'. You'll neva' know how much I missed hearin' from da real you."

I shrugged. "I guess you have been right... thanks for talking some sense into me. So, what have you been doing in the past ten years?"

His eyes lit up and he smiled. "Well, Spot hooked up wit dis goil named Brooklyn durin' da strike an' about a year afta', I hooked up wit a friend of hers! You would like her, she's so much like you! An' we have two kids now, twins, Micheal an' Alexis!"

I smiled. "That is so great! So, what's her name, you forgot to tell me?"

"She usually goes by Chris or Echo, her newsie name, but her real name is Christina Collin... Well, I guess it would be Christina Kelly now."

I stared at him. "Woah... something just hit me. Did you say Christina Kelly? Because my boyfriend's name is Christian Kelly... you don't think that..."

"They could be related?" He asked and then shrugged. "Good question, why don't ya ask him or his family if dey've heard of Echo?"

I smiled. "I think I will. That would be so weird if he was related to you1 I would have known my boyfriend's great-great-great grandfather!"

He laughed. "Yeah, dat would be pretty strange! It's great talkin' ta you again, ya know dat?"

I nodded. "Yeah, do you have any idea how you got here?"

He shook his head. "Na, I just stick wit Echo's divine intervention theory."

I smiled. "Good explanation. I guess you probably told her about what happened huh?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I told her a lot. She is someone I can always talk to. A lot of the guys used to go to her if they had problems... with da exception of Spot. Most of da time her an' Spot didn't get along too good. But every now an' den day would be civil ta each otha'."

I smiled. "I bet she didn't like him because of his ego, right?"

Jack smiled and nodded. "Dat's exactly why she hated him! It wasn't da greatest situation for Brooklyn an' I, my goilfriend and my best friend hated each otha' an' Brooklyn had da same problem! Ya shoulda seen some of da fights Echo an' Spot got in! She would always call him Rover or Fido. She was always teasin' 'im cause of his name."

"How can you resist making fun of a guy named Spot?!"

He laughed. "Dat's exactly what Echo said every time she did it!"

"You really love her huh?" I asked seriously.

He smiled contentedly and leaned against the wall. "Yeah, I really do." He started to say someting else, but I cut him off. "Let me guess, you have to leave?"

He looked at the ground and nodded, "Fraid so. Just promise me ya won't ferget me dis time."

I nodded. "I promise."

He smiled and hugged me. "I guess I'll be seein' ya around. An' I expect ya ta keep dat promise." Pointing a finger at meand trying to be stern.

I laughed. "You got it. You know, you must be my guardian angel, a real dream come true."

He smiled. "Maybe I am." And with that he walked out the door.

~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~

I woke up the next morning and shook my head. "What a weird dream." I said quietly. I walked into the living room and saw an envelope lying on they table. I opened it, pulled out a note, and a silver heart-shaped locket fell out with a picture of Jack and I on the inside. I smiled and opened the note.
"Sandy.
It wasn't a dream, here's your proof. Just keep on believing things will work our all right, your boyfriend will be fine.
Your 'Guardian Angel',
Jack Kelly"

I smiled and put the note and the locket in a drawer. Half an hour later I was at the hospital talking to Chris' mother. He had made a miraculous recovery and the incredibly confused doctors said he would walk away just as healthy as before the accident. Right before I left I decided to ask his mother the question I had been wondering about since the night before. "Mrs. Kelly?"

"She smiled. "Yes Sandy?"

"You wouldn't happen to be related to a Christina Kelly, would you?"

She stared at me. "Actually, yes. She was my husband's great-grandmother. I met her when I was just a little kid, about the time I met Christian's father. She was a wonderful lady, you would have liked her. She died when I was a teenager but I was very fond of her, she told me stories about how she grew up. I do believe that she was from Colorado but moved to New York and became a newsie when her parents died. She met a boy there, Jack Kelly, who was the leader of the Manhattan newsies, and she married him. I remember his also, he was just as nice as she was. Why do you ask?"

I smiled. "Oh, no reason. I just though I remembered Chris saying something about it."

"Okay. Well, I better be getting home. But it was nice talking to you!"

"You too!" I said cheerfully. I walked home and checked my answering machine, there was one message from a newspaper offering me a job, and the rest were from some of my friends in high school telling me that they were going to get together and that I was invited. I smiled because for once, I was really happy. Over the course of the next year, my friends and I started talking to each other again, including Alahna who had sworn she would never forgive my for 'stealing' her boyfriend, I got another job at a newspaper, and Christian and I were married. I guess there were a lot of times I thought all hope was gone and that nothing would ever be the same again... But, things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes dreams get shattered, but if you believe, there will be someone there to help you mend them. There is always hope for the future as long as you have faith.

_-~*The End*~-_

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