Awake

Part 5: An encounter

It's dark, empty, and it feels warm. In front of me stands a golden door. Its bright colour is inviting, so I open it. A woman, wearing a black cape, stands behind the door at a distance. "Hello, hdaifuh." Her voice soft as she speaks. I couldn't make out the name she had said. As if I couldn't hear the syllables of my own name.

"I see you're making progress." "Progress?" I replied. "You're mistaken, all I'm doing is dreaming and soon enough I'll wake up." That's when it hit me, I was pretty sure this was a dream. — No, I can't be dreaming, this is gonna be the start of a nightmare. They always start when something is off.

"Oh, is that so?" She smiles but without her eyes, making it seem as if her smile was fake. "Uh-mm, I-I didn't mean that. I just meant." — I shouldn't have told her I was aware of being in a dream. That's how all my lucid nightmares begin. "He-he! How amusing, are you in any case AFRAID?" Her head tilts to the side, a glaring smile across her face. "N-no, why would I be?" "You know it's all fake, don't you? DOn't YOu?"

Those words resonate in my ears until all I see is darkness. I try to open my eyes, they feel heavy, but finally I get them open. I sit up on the bed and look at the room. "Ugh, I'm still in the same room as yesterday. Wasn't this also a dream?" I lay back down and cover my face with the blankets. "I don't want to do this again. I'd rather stay in bed and sleep. But... I also don't want to sleep and have another nightmare." I say in a tired voice.

I pull the covers off my face and look at the bedroom. The sun shines brightly, the trees are green, and the branches move softly. It feels all too beautiful. "I'll just enjoy this for a while." It doesn't take too long for my peace to get disturbed by an exterior factor. Someone's voice resonates in the hallway. "Sweetie get up, I made you breakfast! Your favourite! Wouldn't want it to go cold, would ya?"

"I'll be there in a bit." I reply, not sure what to expect. What could she have prepared? Guessing from the voice, it's got to be my mother. I slowly get up, sloppily. — I don't know what's gonna happen today, and that's what's scary. I don't even have any memories. Is that how a newborn feels? I chuckle a bit.

— Yeah, right. I just turned into a theorist. "Ugh." I look at my reflection in the mirror. "It's still me, I guess. I didn't even realize that I hadn't thought to put on my pyjamas last night. Well, who would put on their pyjamas when they think their life is just a silly dream that they'll wake up from at any moment?"

I brush my teeth real quick because I hate the taste in my mouth from the bad breath. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to fix it a bit. "That will do, I don't have time to think about that, I'm too tired of this." I open that same door and go down those stairs once again. The scent of homemade breakfast enters the hall.

In the dining room, I see that everyone is enjoying their breakfast, including my boyfriend. I'm pretty sure that's what he is. Besides, what else do I call him? I needed to get answers about my memories. I needed to tell him today about it. "Honey, would you look at that, Eric came by this morning, so I invited him to have breakfast with us" Says my mom, I would assume that is who she is.

I sit down, and we eat breakfast, but all I can think about are all the questions I plan on asking him. I can't even enjoy the food. The man, who I believe is my dad, takes off his glasses as he puts down his phone and looks at me. "So you two are dating?" I look up at him from across the dining table, and I feel a bit intimidated. "Uh, well..." He looks over at the guy who was enjoying the meal, and he answers for me. "Yes we are." He says all confidently and with a big smile. I blush as he says that, and I feel like all eyes are on us.

I feel a bit uncomfortable. "I see, so this is the guy you've been talking about." My dad asks me. "I guess." I reply, not even sure what he's referring to. "That's good, dear. You kept nagging me about how your crush flew out of the country and that you didn't get the chance to tell him how you felt." He says, a soft smile across his face. I still have no idea what he is talking about. My mom interrupts him. "That was Eric, honey. He got back from his trip a while ago. I think it was a month ago?"

He looks at her. "Oh, was it the same guy?" "Oh dear, of course it was." She replies. I look at them as they keep talking, it's interesting, but I don't really know what it's all about. If I had my memories, I'd be kind of embarrassed that they told the guy I like all that stuff. My dad looks at Eric once more. "Well, tell me a bit about yourself, young man." I blur out what he says, I can't really focus on anything anymore. It's like I don't really belong in this conversation or in this place.

I see him finishing up his plate and I hurriedly get up. "Thanks for the meal, we'll get going now." "We are?" He says, looking all confused and not in a rush to get out of the house. "Yes, we have some... plans for today." I told them. "Oh, well, it sounds like it's pretty urgent. But don't you want to finish your plate first? You haven't touched your food much this morning." Says mom.

"I lost my appetite. I'm just feeling really excited about today, that's why." I told her. "Alright then. I love you, sweetie. Have a good day." she says with a soft smile upon her face. "Hmm... I love you too." I told her before leaving, but dad stops me from leaving by grabbing on to my wrist as he points to his cheek. "You forgot to give your sweet father a good peck on the cheek."

I look at him, not sure what to do. He smiles. "Alright, I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your boyfriend. But at least say that you love me like you did to your mom." I smile a bit. "I love you, dad." He smiles back. "I love you more." He replies as he lets go of my wrist.

We get out of the house, and I'm getting excited to finally tell him about all that has been bothering me lately. "So, what exactly were our plans?" He says in a teasing tone, chuckling. "We're going back to the lily pond" I smile with excitement at seeing that lively pond. "Alright." He smiled back at me. I take his hand. "Let's go!"