Michael's Dream

I opened my eyes as the sun shone brightly, hitting my face. Standing up I wiped the dirt off my clothing. The house wasn’t far from where I’d taken my little nap, even though I’m sure that hadn’t been the original intention. Mom was standing over the stove when I walked it. I gave her a quick kiss before reaching for a fresh cookie. She slapped my hand away. 1

“Those are for tomorrow.” She told me. I nodded and went to sit at the kitchen table. 2

I watched as she worked, as she did what she’d always done. With a sigh of restlessness I stood up and walked out of the warm, quiet kitchen. Stepping into the living room I was hit with the feeling of overwhelming cold, a cold that could reach your heart if it tried. People were congregated together, talking. Not one of them turned my way as I walked around them. All but one face in the room was blurred. He stood at the edge, watching. His face held a multitude of emotions. Two stuck out, anger and sadness. I watched with interest until his eyes fell on me. Green eyes, normally filled with life, were now cold and lifeless. He didn’t move, just stared at me. I wanted to look away, to no longer feel the anxious feeling he was bestowing on me. My body wouldn’t move and my eyes refuse to blink. Slowly he turned and started walking. As if my legs had a mind of their own, I started to follow. Not once did he turn to look at me. 3

Stepping out of our family’s farmhouse we came suddenly to a cemetery. It started to get difficult to follow him as he made his way through the stones. Finally after what seemed like forever he stopped in front of one of them. Looking down I read the inscription, Bret Nathan Hampden. I looked up, wanting answers, but he was gone, he’d disappeared. I searched frantically for him, but he was gone, I couldn’t find him. I’d lost my brother. 4

With a breath intake I woke up, my neck stiff from sitting in the hospital chair. Looking over, I saw his still body, then looking up I saw the heart monitor. It told me he was still in this world. I reach over and brush away the brown hair that seemed to be over his closed eyes. Taking his hand, I watched him, watched as he breathed evenly. I concentrated on each breath taken. Slowly I fell into a dreamless sleep.5