When I See You Again

Chapter 1: Dreams

"Henry! You are too high. I am proud of you for being able to climb my tree without disturbing the apples but I am worried that you will fall. Please come down."

"But Mom! Don't you want me to pick some of these for you? I can even reach this one way out here."

"No, Henry. It's too dangerous. I will get the step ladder to reach those highest ones. Now, come down."

"Oh, Mom. I'm not a baby anymore. I'm not gonna fall! I'm safe up he..."

"Henry! Henry! Oh my god! Henry!"

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"Henry! Son, wake up. Are you ok? Wake up. You're having another bad dream," Emma gently shook Henry awake.

"What? What's going on? Am... am I dreaming? Mom?" Henry awoke confused, rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands.

"Yeah, Kid. You were having a bad dream and woke me up. Do you remember what it was about?"

"No," Henry lied, looking away and hoping his mother couldn't see him well enough in the dark to know. She always seemed to know when people were lying. Her super power. "I don't remember."

"Well, it isn't important I suppose," Emma said skeptically. Why would Henry lie? "Think you can go back to sleep? You've got to be up early tomorrow for that museum trip. Don't want to be late."

"I'm ok. Sorry I woke you up, Mom."

"It's ok. But if you need me, just call me. You've been having these bad dreams a lot lately. I'm starting to get worried," Emma whispered as she smoothed the covers out over her son. His bad dream came with quite a bit of thrashing about tonight.

"Don't worry, Mom. It's probably just too much homework making my brain crazy. Maybe I should stop doing it," Henry grinned sleepily.

"Ha! Nice try, Kid. It's more likely too many video games. Do you want to stop those?"

"Nope. All good here. No more nightmares for me."

"That's what I thought. Good night, Henry. I love you."

"Good night, Ma. I love you too."

"Ma? What's that about? Too old for Mommy and now too old for Mom?"

"Huh? No. I don't know why I said that. Must be sleepy. Good night... Mom," Henry emphasized Mom that time. Why did I call her Ma?

Emma quietly shut the door to Henry's room and padded back down the hall to her own bed. This wasn't the first or even the third time she had made a late night trip to Henry's room this week, called there by his restlessness and nightmares. In fact, for the last several weeks this was becoming a regular thing.

Since they had arrived in their new apartment and new life in New York, it seemed like things had felt just a bit off. Sure, they were both happy, the apartment was nice, school and work going ok... but there was just something not quite right about it. Emma wasn't sure just what it was but there was an overall feeling like something was missing.

She hadn't mentioned this feeling to Henry. He was adjusting very well to the new school and making friends. Emma saw no need in worrying him. But now, the last few weeks with the nightmares-maybe he felt it too.

No. You are not going to discuss this with the kid.

Emma snuggled down into her bed and waited for sleep to take her. As her eyes drifted closed, a thought danced at the edge of her mind. A book. Something about Henry and a book...