The loud, mind-tickling ticking sound came to a complete halt. I anticipated the next rhythmic tock, but it never came. I look up at the clock tower, for some reason the hands halted completely. The air felt stiffer than I'd ever felt it. Wait a minute, where am I? I thought I knew what was happening but I've only just now come to. At least, as far as I remember.
Wait, no, it's kinda coming back to me. I was at that old butterfly garden with my grandma. She used to take me here a couple times in my childhood, but we stopped when I got older. It looked just like I remembered, a quaint space in front of the town clock tower and some bushes in front of it. To most people it probably doesn't mean much, but to an 8-year old me, he just decided this moment would stay with me for the rest of my life. But that can't be right... my grandmother passed away a few years ago.
Actually, yeah. Still-living dead loved ones and dredging up of old memories. That's usually a sign I'm dreaming. At least I know now, I guess. Either way, everyone here looked frozen in time besides me, not even the butterflies were moving. I guess good thing I realized I'm in a dream before I noticed that or else I might be freaking out.
Something caught my eye, though. I'm not the only thing that's not stuck in time in here, and that's when I notice a blue butterfly, still-animated unlike the other butterflies. It fluttered over to a nearby bush. Something compelled me to go to it. I mean, why not, right? Not like anything else in here is helping me out.
