Dreaming in Reality

Prologue

I get out of my car and and rush inside my bag slapping against my upper thigh. The rain wets my jacket and soaks my hair but I'm tired and quite frankly, I could care less. I rush up the porch steps and fumble for my keys. I hear that familiar clicking sound from the door and I sigh with relief as I push it open and walk into my silent house. My wife sits at the kitchen table reading a magazine and finishing up some oven pizza from yesterday. It's Friday night and once again I'm arriving home. I walk into the kitchen and throw my bags on the floor and giving her a small peck on the cheek. She smiles at me and helps me take my coat off. After settling on she strokes my long mane of hair softly the way I like it and I lay my head on her shoulder.

"God Harriet I hate it when you come home so late like this!" My wife, Sandra, turns around from her reading to look me straight in the eyes. I sighed deeply and straightened up. Me and Sandra have been struggling the past few years financially after someone crashed our only car and then won the case against us after falsely claiming that we had crashed them. It's been difficult and her sister hasn't made it easier. Right when I was about to start talking the door bell rings and then again a second time when I was getting up. I opened the door waiting to see someone when all I saw was a small box in front of our doorstep and a lady running down the street with these long black boots and a red coat. Inside the box was a baby just peering up at me with bright hazel eyes and smiling joyfully. I smiled and took her inside shutting the heavy door behind me.

"Who was that?" Sandra comes out of the kitchen and peers inside the box. She looks up at me and I shrug. We take the baby out of the box and sit back down at the kitchen.

"Go feed the baby she must be hungry. I'll just search for something in the box." I grabbed some milk and warmed up enough but not to much. She drank hungrily as if though she hadn't eaten in days.

"You were hungry huh?" I whispered. Sandra turned to me her face in shock and total anger. She laughed in disbelief and looked at me as of though I knew what she was trying to tell me.

"Well?"

"This is ridiculous. I can't believe Jessalyn would do this to me!" Jessalyn was her sister.

"What? She left the baby? This is her baby?"

Sandra nodded still looking at the letter in front of her. I grabbed it for muskeg and handed her the baby while I read.

Dear Sandra,
I haven't been so helpful these past two years. I have caused you a lot of havoc with my own problems. I had a child Sandra. I didn't know it would happen. It we just a one night stand but I didn't think to use protection. I'm so sorry. But you know I can't care for a child if I can't even care for myself. Please do me that favor of caring for Riley and please protect her. I love her more then the world. But I just can't have her.

-Jess

I shook my head. I couldn't believe it less then Sandra. But even though this baby wasn't ours we raised her the way Jess wanted. Jessalyn was never a bad person but she made horrible decisions. This one though, was her best.