-Five years old and cast through time so far from her own time she could never be sure it wasn't just some dream. Was that man with the red hair the same shade as her own, the man she seemed to remember fondly in the world of her dreams, real? Was he connected to the memories she seemed to have of a world long forgotten, except in the pages of her school's history books? Was he the reason she often felt so odd being called by the last name she had? And if he was real, what had happened to him?-

Prologue:

Darkness was all that she knew, floating in a world that she could not recognize or make sense of. She was adrift among stars, watching an ever changing sky that seemed to show a passing of time that she could not feel. The truth of how she had gotten there was one of many things that she could feel slipping away from her; her memories fading a little more with each sunrise and sunset that she witnessed pass so quickly.

Then, seemly out of nowhere, that changing sky gave way to a view blocked by tall buildings. She was sitting, leaned against a wall just out of view of a near empty street, struggling to remember anything of what she had just witnessed. Was it a dream? She couldn't be sure. Struggling to her feet the girl felt as though she had never stood upon them, and held the wall for support as she slowly made her way to the thinning crowd of people. Many didn't spare her even a glance as they hurried to where ever it was they were going in the fading daylight, and for some reason that in itself was strange to her.

"Excuse me, miss?" she turned her head to look up at a young woman who had stopped beside her. Her kind brown eyes seemed to hold some familiarity to the girl, as did her wavy hair. "Are you lost?"

"I don't know," the girl's throat hurt as she spoke. "I know something is wrong, but I don't know much else."

"Where are you parents?"

"I don't think I have parents. If I do, I don't know who or where they are." she looked out at the street.

"Would it be alright if I tried to help you then?"

"I think so." the girl turned back to the woman, and slowly accepted her hand when she held it out to her. The woman gave a kind smile before she began leading her through the streets to a tall building, taking her right inside and up to a desk that she couldn't see the top of.

"Ms. Rosemary, what are you doing back so soon?"

"Hi Ms. April, I was wondering if you could look through some files for me." With a nod the girl was suddenly looking up at a rather chubby faced woman who peeked over the desk for a look.

"What's her name and age?"

The girl frowned, searching her memory as the two women looked at her. "Amara? I don't remember anything but that, and I think I'm… maybe five?"

"Well with that hair and those eyes, I don't think it'll be hard to locate any files." Ms. April seemed to have some concerns about the girl's obvious confusion. "For now, maybe just take her home with you."

"Alright, be sure to call if you find anything."

"I will."

After a quick goodbye Ms. Rosemary took the girl by the hand again, and led her from the building. "So, Amara, are you hungry?"

"Now that you ask, I am a little hungry." she looked up at the woman. "What will we have for dinner?"

"I'm not sure. It's my husband's turn to cook tonight."

"Is he a good cook?"

"Depends on what he's making," she giggled. "But I'm sure he'd be more than happy to make something just for you."

"Okay." Amara looked at the street again, following her new guardian along until they came into what was clearly a residential district. Ms. Rosemary took her right up and inside of a cute little one story home, and almost as soon as they stepped inside the smell of garlic and butter reached them.

"Honey, is that pasta I smell?"

"Sure is!" a not very tall man with disheveled dirty blond hair walked over, but paused when he noticed the girl standing with his wife. "A guest?"

"Yes. Honey, meet Amara. She's going to be staying with us for a while. Amara, this is my husband Vincent."

"Pleasure to meet you little lady." Vincent smiled and knelt down to shake her hand. "You hungry? I made plenty of food."

She nodded her head, and was happy to follow the couple into the kitchen.

It turned out to be a good start for her, though she would never really know why it felt like her life was starting over.