Dreams, Memories & Keys

Chapter 2 - Visiting with Friends

Compared to the day before, the last Thursday of July 2009 felt very anti-climactic, except for one thing. Greg woke up with the distinct feeling he'd had a dream. He stared at the ceiling for a while, trying to remember it. That's what he was doing when Susan awoke looking curiously at him.

"Is there something on your mind?" Susan asked.

"A dream," Greg told her truthfully.

"Oh. It seems like those always come to us at times like this," Susan remarked casually.

"Oh?"

"At a crossroads or a change in our lives. Usually, the Lord wants us to do something," Susan related.

"Except I am fairly certain this wasn't that sort of dream," Greg told her.

Susan arched a brow at her husband. "What sort of dream was it?"

"That's just it. I've been laying here trying to remember. It seems to me the dream was a memory, except of something that happened in this life," Greg explained.

"What did your dream make you remember?" Susan asked.

"I still can't remember the dream, but when I woke, I found myself inexplicably thinking about my brother," Greg replied.

"Bernie?" Susan asked.

"The very same. He was actually named Bernard, you know. It's just that we in the family always called him Bernie," Greg explained.

"Just the family?" Susan wondered.

"Everybody did. Our friends, our teachers, relatives ... even the rabbi," Greg shared. His face took on a pensive expression.

"What is troubling you, Greg?" Susan asked.

"I don't know why just now I might be dreaming of him ... instead of Melody," Greg related.

"Tell me about it," Susan invited as the pair lay together in their bed.

"That precisely is the problem. I can't clearly remember what it is I dreamed. I am fairly certain it began with Melody. She was sitting on my lap. We were in the easy chair in the family room where we liked to watch TV together. She was talking to me, though I can't quite remember what she was saying. Then suddenly, I was in the room where Bernie died," Greg shared.

"A hospital room? Or did he die at home?" Susan asked.

"It was in hospital," Greg confirmed. "He was lying there, looking like he did when he died. Then suddenly he wasn't. His face was fuller, more like it had been for most of his life. He opened his eyes, and looked at me. The next thing I knew, he was sitting up on the edge of the bed staring at me, but Melody was still talking. Then, I woke up. I don't remember what she said in either setting."

"Perhaps that just means that Melody has moved on. She has joined the rest of your family who is in heaven," Susan suggested.

"Perhaps. However, it was odd, seeing Bernie while also hearing Melody talking. But why should Bernie of all people be there?" Greg asked.

"Pray on it," Susan advised as the pair of them got out of bed and began to go through their morning routine.

"I will," Greg promised.

"If it was important, I'm sure something more will come to you after you do," Susan remarked.

"Possibly. This feels like the sort of thing which might take some time," Greg advised.

Susan nodded. "Just let me know what I can do to help."

Greg smiled, kissed his wife on the forehead, grabbed his prayer shawl and went out to the balcony outside their bedroom to pray.