Dream

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dream~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Realm of Reality (Short story) Part 1

“I could make you happy….Really happy Ryan….Please”. Stacey pleading through each text she sent and through sobbing eyes. She waited. No reply. She sobbed louder into herself. How can he not respond? After two years. Nothing. Stacey tossed the phone to the foot of the bed and sobbed silently to herself until she fell in to a numbing sleep. The phone vibrated incessantly. She woke up groggily, grabbed the phone and peered at the screen with blurred eyes. ‘Accident, Hospital. Get here NOW!!!!!’

The text was from her brother George. Stacey jumped off the bed wiped her eyes and ran down the stairs to the front door. After throwing on her slippers and grabbing her car keys she got in her car and flew down the road to the hospital. It was too late. As soon as she entered the hospital and saw George she knew. She dropped to the floor and sobbed. The loss of love not only from a partner but her parents. She was empty. Nothing was left in her. Darkness consumed her. She woke up to George by her side. “Hey sissy”. He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was sad. As he should be. I squeezed his hand that was already grasping mine. I sat up in a bed that was not mine. Cautiously looked around. Before I could say anything a doctor came strolling in. “Ms. Gomez hello, I’m Dr. Henry, you passed out in the hall and we brought you in here to be more comfortable….” Silence…… “I am sorry about your parents. How do you feel?”. “I mean my boyfriend dumped me and my parents are dead and I don’t know what to do with anything anymore…” I sobbed and George hugged me, he pulled away. “Listen Stacey, its going to be ok we will be ok.” He turned to Dr. Henry and stood up and extended his hand. “Thank you for caring for my sis and for all you did for my parents. If you don’t mind now we are going to go home.” Dr. Henry nodded and left the room. I swung my feet over the bed and felt a little woozy so George caught me and guided me outside into the darkness and to the car. We drove home in silence.

6 months later and the darkness still consumes’ me. I can’t think of anything more painful to have gone through. Buzz. I grabbed my phone off the table where I was sitting eating my breakfast before work. My alarm going off telling me I had 15 minutes before I had to leave. I pushed away from the table phone in hand and put my plate in the sink. I was already dressed so I grabbed my over the shoulder bag and slipped on my shoes and heading off to work. The drive to work was a relentless feeling of dread. I worked at dog walking place and that was my only reprieve from the nightmare that has been these last 6 months. Walking into the shop and I hear someone calling my name. Stacey….Stacey….Pssssst…. I turn around to no one behind me. Searching for whoever was calling my name and glance across the street. Across the street sitting down at the local café with a newspaper in front of his face is a man waving his finger slightly to me. I glance behind me back at the dog walking shop and no one so he sure is talking to me. I cautiously cross the street, a truck passed by as I was reaching into my pocket to feel my small pocket knife. Something seemed off. I got to where the man was sitting but by the time I reached the table the man was gone. Just his newspaper was left. I looked around in disbelief; maybe my grief was making me see things. I glanced down to where the man sat and reached for the newspaper as I grabbed it felt heavy and a little black book fell out and hit the pavement. I reached down and grabbed it. Buzz Buzz. I jumped up. My alarm. I huffed I was late for work and I was literally across the street. I jogged back across the street slipping the little black book into my bag. I walked through the door and the usual swarm of pups came to me making me feel at ease. I soon forgot all about the man across the street and the little black book burning a hole in my bag. I finished my shift and locked up. I stayed until close most nights to just not have to think about anything. Closing the store and heading to my car I unlock and get in. starting the ignition and looking forward. Forward to nothing. That seemed to be the moral of my life. I drove home and flipped the radio stations between commercials. I pulled up to the drive way and saw that George was home. His girlfriend was there too. Great. I sighed. I parked and got out. Locked the door and walked up to the mail box. Letters and bills waited. George never checked. I chuckled. Shuffling through the envelopes, mainly trash one stuck out. I walked to the door unlocked it and opened it. Slipping my shoes off and hanging my coat up I yelled toward the kitchen. “Hey George, hey Cat. I’m home. Going to shower this dog drool off.” “Hey sissy ok dinner is all set.” “It’s so good.” Cat squealed as she stuffed her face. Did I mention to say she was pregnant? They seemed perfect. I looked at my phone missing Ryan again. He didn’t even call when my parents passed and he knew everyone knew. I walked upstairs and to my room. Laid my bag down on my desk and closed my door. I have an en suit bathroom which was nice. As I stepped toward my closet to get clothes for the shower I heard a small flop of the floor. I glanced toward my desk. On the floor was the little black book.

I clambered toward it already feeling drained from the day. I picked up the book and sat at my desk. Let’s see what you have. Maybe nothing. As I opened the book a small key with a small paper attached slipped off. I grabbed the key and examined it. Small like a postal key. Hmmm.

I went back to looking at the book. No name no title… no author…. Seemed more like a journal of sorts… who was that man and why would he leave it… maybe he dropped it on accident. I skimmed through the book but the pages were blank… I flipped through and saw the middle had some writing... how odd. I went to the page where there was writing. It was a letter. A letter to me….. It read:

Dear Stacey, I know this will find you. I will make sure of it. To cut to the chase it doesn’t matter who I am but it matters who you are. George is not your brother. Those people who died are not your parents. I know this will come as a shock to you but fret not you are a strong person. I know you have hurt but I also know you always questioned yourself and if you belonged. This was all a made up life. Ryan, well all of it was fake. A sham. Ok. I can help you. I had to leave earlier today as to not get caught. Please follow my instructions ok and please don’t waste time. Ok at exactly 9pm your phone will ring you will answer it and repeat what the caller says ok in front of George. You have an inheritance that you are required to obtain when you are 25; you get a portion now as you are 20 but the rest when you are 25. At this moment there is $20,000 in a mail box in the city at an apartment that has been set up for you. I will see you soon. Don’t trust anyone. I can explain it all. Safe travels lil one.

Mouth agape. I set the book down and looked at my watch. 8:50pm.

I didn’t know what to believe. I had to believe this though. What’s the coincidence of this happening? I always felt off here. I did love them even If they weren’t my parents but I did question why George never left I just assumed he wanted the house. Hmmm…. I didn’t shower I packed a small bag with a change of clothes and some clean undies. Walked downstairs sat the bag by the door. Walked to the kitchen and as I walked in my phone rang. I answered it and noticed George looking at me curiously. “Repeat after me lil one.” “Yes hello Ms. Janice how are you, I already locked up.” “Good girl, now I just told you the alarm went off and you need to meet me at the dog shop to regroup and make sure nothings been stolen.” “Oh no the alarm…. Are you sure…. No the door was locked… it’s not…. Ok I’m on my way.” “See you soon lil one I’ve texted you the address.” “Bye Ms. Janice.”

I hung up the phone and George moved in front of me. “Hey bro I got to go ok don’t wait up.” “Want me to come with sounds sketch.” I fumbled and then looked at Cat, “No no stay here with cat it’s probably nothing I’ll be back soon.” He nodded and I turned to leave. Grabbing my bag and slipping in the shoes I rushed to my car. That felt weird. Not the phone call but George. It felt like he didn’t trust me. I mean do I trust me. I am lying to him. Anyways focusing on the task. I drove to the address provided. It was out of my small town and in the major city. I found the building and it looked so nice and fancy and everything I wish I was but wasn’t. I pulled up and without a word valet opened my door escorted me outside and had my keys. “Please follow the bell hop he will escort you Ms. Gomez.” I nodded and followed hesitantly through the big doors to an elevator that brought me to the top floor. The doors of the elevator opened to a huge suit. Confused I looked at the bell hop. “This is your residence Miss. Enjoy your stay if you need anything don’t hesitate to call downstairs.” I stepped off and he was gone. I ran to the huge window overlooking the whole city. I twirled around. This was breath taking. I looked towards the table and on it a note and a cell phone. Before I could take a glance I remember he mentioned a mailbox, I called down stairs and had the bell hop once again lead me to where the mail boxes were. I found mine with my name on it and opened it. Nothing but a black bag. I grabbed it and he escorted me upstairs again. I got upstairs and sat down on the couch. Opening the bag I saw the money. $20,000. Wow I never had this much money. I picked up the letter. Welcome home lil one. Now is not the time for rest we have much to discuss take this phone, it is yours now. Throw your old phone in the fire and forget that life, when you are ready come to the study. The study. Wait he was here. I jumped up from my seat. I threw my old phone in the fire and walked towards the study. I got there and sitting down was the man from earlier this day. He got up and came forward. “Lil one…please sit.” I walked and sat down. Before I could form a thought, a sentence he spoke. Lil one I know this is confusing but we need you now to wake up…just wake up….WAKE UP!!!!!!!!” He yelled… I was thrown at his yell back in my seat and pushed to the wall…….

I shot up from a bed. I heard beeping….everything hurt…. George was by my side…. “Where am i?” ”the hospital sissy, you got into a car wreck and have been in a coma for the last 6 months…we have all been worried….” He looked concerned. I was confused… that felt real... George stepped away and I saw him motion to someone. I looked down and saw all the tubes, the catheter the IVs. This was real... In walked Ryan and he was followed by parents…. It felt so real... Mom was by my side… I saw how happy she looked….”We have been praying nonstop mija...” She kissed me and held my hand. I looked down to my hand that was free and opened it and in my hand was a small key…. I looked up and George looked at me and motioned towards the desk by the bed… “Hey sissy, do you know whose little black book this is… pages have been ripped out.”

I stared at disbelief. I didn’t say anything instead I closed my eyes… It was real... So what the heck is going on……….