False Pretenses

Chapter 16

Woohoooo triple update! I mean WOT?!

I knew I was dreaming because I knew what I was seeing couldn't be real.

Because I was dreaming about my dead parents, sitting with me at my birthday table, smiling down at their only child: me.

Norman and Jennifer Morgan. My dad and mom.

They always looked young in my dreams, like this, no matter what my age. I could never imagine them with grey hair even if I tried. Even now they looked barely in their thirties. Probably because I never got to see them getting old and never will.

"Cmon honey! Blow the candles!" My mom said happily.

"Don't forget to make a wish." My dad added.

"But-but you're not here." I mumbled. "This is not real." I said, overcome with grief.

"You know we love you pumpkin, don't you?" Mom said and caressed my cheek with overwhelming affection. Her auburn hair framed her slender face, just like mine.

"It doesn't matter if we are physically present with you or not, we will always be here." Dad said and pointed at his chest where his heart would be.

I managed a meagre nod. It was so saddening and yet so joyful, seeing them like this. I felt a sob choking my throat.

"I want to be with you guys. Why can't we be together?" I flailed my arms as I cried and saw their forms disappearing. Everything around me was starting to dissolve into nothingness. But I couldn't get up from my seat at the dining table. I couldn't move myself, no matter how hard I tried.

"You have a long life ahead baby girl. Live it up to the fullest Violet." My dad said with glistening eyes.

"We'll always love you Violet." Mom said as she joined dad's side and they started to fade out together.

"Its time to go Violet." There was a sudden change in the way they were addressing me. It was... slightly impatient.

"Violet." Mom said with urgency but the voice wasn't hers.

It was manly.

They disappeared completely.

"Violet!" Now I was floating around in blank space, a never ending darkness that was the thin line between being awake and being asleep.

"I swear love if you don't wake up in the next sixty seconds I will spill cold water all over you. I'll be awfully sorry about it but if it has to be done, I'll do it."

I woke up with a few cuss words.

"Finally! There we go. Rise and shine! I thought you had passed out." Mr J shook his head as he moved away from me.

I squinted my eyes. The room was filled with an insane amount of light. Who had drawn the curtains? It was too bright for my just-back-in-business eyes.

Mr J was here? I squinted at him. Mr Johnson was donning casuals. A cashmere sweater with khakis.

What was he doing in my room? Feeling surprisingly exposed and uncomfortable I discreetly pulled up the sheets higher, up to my chin. I also smoothed down my hair and I could only hope I didn't look like a thirsty vampire.

"Oh love, you look way better for a person who just woke up. Trust me its fine." Mr J motioned to my hand fixing my hair.

I blushed.

"What are you doing here?" I attempted to be polite but all I could manage was a yawn.

"Oh I'm sorry to intrude like this dear but we're quite behind on schedule." He said politely. "And I didn't mean to frighten you. I waited an hour and got worried. But now you're all awake. Get ready! We're going to take a look around before your flight."