Dreams Can Kill

"Now don't go out that late. Come back home at 4:00. No questions."1

"MOOOOOOOOOM"2

"NO QUESTIONS."3

Olivia scoffs and walks right out the door. She doesn't realize why I'm doing this. It's because of those dreams. Those horrid dreams. Last time I had one of them, my husband, her father, died. I dreamed he was in a car crash with a large hummer. Next day...BAM. He was dead. I couldn't believe my eyes. Now I never want my children to go out very late, even though they complain. It keeps the dreams from becoming a reality. I've faced enough tragedy in my life. I don't want more. I look out the window for a while before closing the blinds, just in case people are watching. Then I leave 2 messages on Olivia's cell phone before taking a nap.4

......................................................5

I get up with a start. That dream. That did not just happen. My heart is pounding ferociously. I fell my body. Sweat is dripping. I'm pale, shaking, petrified.6

"Olivia!!!" I step outside and cry, hoping she can hear me. Many people waking by stare, but I couldn't care less.7

"OLIVIA! COME HOME RIGHT NOW!"8

The wind carries my words away and stings my tear stained cheeks. I close the door and frantically call her number, over and over.9

"Come on...pick up!"10

Each time I hear the ever present beep. I sit down on the burgundy couch, still pale and shaking, after leaving 20 messages. Every few minutes, I peek out the window in desperate hopes that Olivia would be coming back home. But there is no Olivia, even after 4:30. I start to wail uncontrollably, stopping Kari from her studies.11

"Mom! What happened?"12

Before I could say a word, the doorbell chimes. It resonates through the halls and I dare not open the door, in fear of a cop standing there with the bad news. Kari gets it for me, and I don't even complain.13

"Yes officer?"14

I freeze up inside.15

"I'm sorry to bother you. Can I come in for a minute?"16

"Something wrong? Please tell me!"17

He says nothing, but steps inside and takes the spot nest to me on the worn out couch. Almost immediately, I start to cry.18

"I'm sorry. Did you already know?"19

I can't stop crying to answer him. Kari looks from me, to him, to me again.20

"Somebody tell me, what happened?!" She screams, scared and confused at the same time. We stay quiet.21

Then it dawns on her.22

"Oh god. Does it have to do with Olivia?!" The pained look on my face says it all. She clamps a hand over her mouth, afraid that if she says anything, she'll collapse into tears like me. We stay silent for minutes, only one thought in our heads. Finally I calm down enough to speak.23

"How did she die?"24

"Well..."25

"A man went up to her friends didn't he?" My volume escalates with each word.26

"Olivia's friends went with him, and she didn't want to feel left out, right? He murdered all of them, didn't he?!"27

Silence28

"DIDN'T HE?!?!?!?" I scream. My voice echos and I fall into depression again. Unwanted tears shed as Kari holds me tight, reassuring me that everything will be alright as time goes by. This time, I don't think it will. No one in our family will be alright with me and my dreams.