Hollow dreams

Fall 2020 . It’s grey and gloomy outside and the wind seems to enjoy dancing around the trees.

I put on my thin sweater as I look out my window , knowing I’ll be shivering as soon as I step outside . I blow out the candle i keep lit on my dining room table everyday .

I walk past strangers , traffic , stores , noise until I finally reach my destination- the grocery store . It’s extremely busy and I don’t feel like waiting An hour In line, so I decide to just pick up a couple items and head back home . Today wasn’t the day - again .

Past the noise , stores , traffic & strangers I go . As I’m walking Into my house , I realize that I truly am an introverted person. I have no need to socialize; I’m perfectly fine being lonesome .

I head over to light a candle again . This one is placed on my bedside table beside my lamp .

As I reach out to grab a match , I pull my hand back , with the quickest reflex I have ever had , and squeal with fear . A little black notebook is sitting beside my candle . And right beside the book is an open briefcase with a mountain of money . I live alone .

Immediately, one thousand questions Run through my mind . “Did someone break in ?” “Is someone here now?” “The door was locked with both locks when I came in.” I grab a knife I keep in the bedside table drawer and check the house . There is no one in there . “If I call the police , I’ll sound crazy worrying over a book and money?!” “I need the money; Pay all of my debt , start fresh , avoid eviction .” I slowly creeped back upstairs and stared at the little black notebook and cash. “I’m just tired and going crazy!” I thought to myself . I decide to take a hot bath to relax .

After a long bath , I step back into my room to get dressed and find the notebook open . I slowly tiptoe towards it and written in black , clear words reads “Hello , Hope” . At this point I knew I was going crazy and asked myself how this was happening and why my name was in it . How did it know my name ? After an hour of staring At the book , I decided to write something back . “What is this ?” And right in front of my eyes , it started writing in itself . Like magic . It wrote “I’m here because you need me . I am here to grant you your wish” I had a million and one questions , but I was trembling at the same time. “Is all of this money for

Me?” I wrote . It instantly replied , “You must decide, Hope. Take all of this money and do as you please or i will grant you One wish . What you most desire . But there are rules . Rule number one , I cannot resuscitate anyone . Rule number two , I cannot make anyone love you . Number

Three , I cannot make you love anyone . Lastly , I cannot grant you more money than what is already at hand . You must choose wisely. Once you make your wish , it cannot be undone - you will live with it for the rest of your remaining life. All you must do , is write your wish in this notebook and it will come true for you .”

I didn’t know if to laugh or cry - but I did know that for some reason or another , I wasn’t scared anymore.

I hesitated for a while but deep down I had one desire . I already had my wish . I wrote it in the little black notebook , closed it and fell asleep.

I woke up in the morning , saw the sun creeping through my curtains and I cried . I cried like a baby . I looked for the little black notebook but it was no where in sight .

It was all true . It gave me what I asked for .

After the passing of my son , I didn’t dream anymore . About anything . My mind would stand still at night . I slept and woke up to not only a hollow heart , but hollow dreams . There weren’t any . I tried and tried and it was as if my mind forgot how to dream . He left and took my dreams with him . Until last night .

You see , not only did It grant my wish , my soul is finally at peace. I saw my son again . Running through this house , laughing , playing ... I saw the sun , flowers , colors , magic , LIFE . We see each other in my dreams & that for me is everything .

My one wish was to be able to dream again . To dream every night for the rest of my life - because only then , would I be able to walk with my son again .

I walk downstairs to light my candle and beside it laid the suitcase with the money. I walk over to it, confused . On top of it , a note that read “The dreams are yours - & so is this . Your son is the key to your soul - & this money is the key to the world .”