Vivid Dreams

He was standing there, a dark sentinel bathed in shadow, a man I knew I had never met; yet he was cloaked in the feel of familiarity. We didn’t speak, the silence broken only by our breathing, and somewhere, off in the distance, quiet whispers.

I took a step closer, trying to shrug of the ominous air of anticipation, trying to maneuver this mystery man out of the darkness and into the light, a place I knew he wouldn’t be comfortable in.

“Mother.”

The darkness spoke in an even tone and I reeled back as if I’d been hit, the breath sucked from my lungs and replaced with fire, my head whirling dizzily. My son, the baby who had been born, and died two years before. Guilt colored me within a cloud of hazy sorrow and when I opened my mouth to speak, the mournful sound seemed as if it was coming from another being.

Once again I found myself stepping forward, intent on touch, if not verbal repose.

“Mother, I’m coming for you.” I pulled my hand back as if I’d touched hot coals just before the image seemed to dissipate, to fade into nothingness, the only thing left an empty mist of defeated despair. And the whispers were growing louder..

I headed towards what I thought were muffled sounds, words I couldn’t understand. They seemed to be everywhere and I couldn’t choose in what direction to go. I was.. lost.

I awoke to the sound of voices, or rather whispers, and for several moments, I wasn’t sure if I was still dreaming, of if I had tumbled into the wake of reality. Seldom do guests roam these halls, the house hauntingly quiet almost all the time.

It didn’t take me long to dress, both hair and feet left to nature, as well as the lack of veils, so I could investigate the sounds that were coming from the main room even though my senses were still addled. The soft lull of voices was a mixture of five, with only two familiar, and introductions were offered.

Gemma. Lucian’s relative was my main focus, but I don’t believe that was where she wished to be, so I soon left her to other conversations, feeling mildly out of place.

Interaction is not something that comes second nature to me. I find it hard to engage in normal conversation, so usually I don’t speak at all, unless addressed. Definitely something I need to work on.

I didn’t sleep at all for the rest of the night.