Ethereal love: love born from a wish

Three(Cecilia)

            "Did you come over to take me to where I'd see another of my family members dead?" I knew it was not his fault but I was upset and there was no one I could channel my anger to except him, the one who took me to see her dead body in the first place even though I was grateful I was able to see her before having to see her on TV.

       "No, I am here to say something else" He said while staring at the floor. I looked around. This was a room in our house... the room I made that thoughtless wish.

          "Before that, why are you able to appear in my dreams?" The first time, I assumed it was because of my wish.

       "I control dreams" I could feel a literal explosion in my head. I was sure my entire face revealed that I was so confused. I have always been bad at controlling my facial expressions.

       "I am Dream, the one who makes dreams" He paused for a while before he continued talking. "It was not your mom's time to die. I looked into it. Someone murdered her but the thing is there was a person with the same name that looked like your mom" The last information was not needed because it was confirmed it was my mom.

         "I was thinking the next thing you'd say was the name of the killer. I already know someone murdered her, captain obvious. Anyone with common sense would be able to know that. And it was even on the news so it confirmed that it was my mom" I was so upset because I could do nothing.

          "I am sorry. I just felt you needed the information" The look of hurt on his face was tearing my heart apart.

          "I didn't need that information" I signed deeply and continued, "It just made me realize how helpless I am. My mom has sold all of her properties and her companies too. No resources for me to look for her. Unless you have a letter containing who killed her with appropriate evidence and an apology letter for making me see her dead, please don't show up in my dreams anymore" I wanted to hit myself. How would someone who existed only in the dream world be able to do all I asked for?

      "Okay" Even though he looked like he had a lot more to say, that was all I heard before I woke up. I should have stayed there longer because the room I was in now lacked the warmth and comfort I needed.

       It was just 2 am so I decided to lay in bed thinking. My mind was wandering to every kind of interaction I had with my mom. I felt so bad when I remembered our last discussion was a fight. She was tired of me dating Lucas. She said something like 'I needed someone who could fight for me, someone who would be sorry when they did something wrong, and someone who actually cared'. I don't know which was funnier remembering that when I should be focusing on how to graduate and make her proud or that Dream was the person who came to mind when I remembered what she said.

       But why did she think I needed someone to fight for me? I could do fine on my own. I always made sure to watch karate videos twice a week and I had a brother who was always ready to stand up for me. Except if I needed someone who could fight against the people who killed her. I needed to know who she sold her company to fast. I felt I needed to ask for the person's help.

        It was finally bright outside. I made sure my siblings dressed up quickly because I didn't want them to miss the bus. My father's place was closer to their schools but Lily did not do well walking for more than two minutes and I was not prepared to carry anyone that morning.

          I led my siblings downstairs so we can head out. I saw that my father and his wife were eating so I guided my siblings to greet them. "Wash these plates before going out" I  heard the annoying voice of my stepmom.

      "You guys should go to school" I said to them as we got closer to the door. "And you too" I added, staring at Mike. He was trying to stay behind and I didn't want him to. I walked back to the house after escorting then to the bus stop.

       "Your mother's funeral service is on Saturday. We decided to cremate her." He could have asked me if I wanted my mom to be cremated or not. Did he just say that he and his wife decided to cremate my mom? What right did she have to make such choices? She was always getting into an argument with my mom when she was alive.

        "I want my mom to be buried" I made sure to look directly at his eyes so he could realize I was dead serious.
    
     "Well, it's not your choice to make and I am not wasting money on a casket" I was pissed off. Did my mom really mean that little to him? I knew I would end up crying if I continued talking to them so I left the house making sure to slam the door.

     "If the door spoils, you're going to have to fix it" I heard my father's wife scream at me.

      I took a bus to college and had a hard time keeping my tears in. I needed someone to tell me that everything was going to be alright and who else was better than my best friend, Stella.

       I finally got to college and rushed to my class but lectures had started so I had to sit and pretend to listen.

         I was not understanding anything the lecturer was saying because I was too busy searching for Stella everywhere with my eyes. I found her after a while but she was so far away. The lecturer rounded up the lecture after what seemed like an eternity.

         I made my way to Stella. "Hi" I said, while sitting on the seat beside her. 

        "What's wrong? Why do you look sad? Have you been crying?" Stella was my best friend but sometimes with the way she cared about me, people mistook her for my sister. I felt tears well up in my eyes and my chest tightened.

      "My mom died. My dad decided to cremate her without even asking for my opinion. The funeral service is on Saturday". I proceeded to hug her while resting my head on her chest. I could feel the warmth from her body and that was what I needed.

        "Sorry. I'm not sure I'll be able to attend though. My mom is planning a get-together with some business people and you know she wants me to take over the modelling agency so I have to be there" I wondered which of the companies my mom would have given me if she was alive right now but at that moment I needed to be happy for my best friend who had been there for me since high school.

       "Oh" That was all I could make myself say because no words were coming to my mind.

     "How's your mom's company?" Stella decided to change the subject and I couldn't tell if it was out of concern or just curiosity.

      "She sold everything even the house" Although Stella did not say nothing, I could see the visible shock on her face.

        "Where have you been staying?" I knew she had a lot of questions she wanted to ask but I was happy she only asked one at the time.

       "My father's house" I broke the hug. The warmth I had gotten was enough. My chest was not tightened anymore and I had stopped crying.

         "How are they treating you and your siblings? Omg. How's Lily faring?" She turned to me so concerned especially for Lily. She loved my little sister so much and cared for her a little too much.

        "We just got there yesterday. I want to leave though"She gave me a knowing look because she knew how annoying my stepmom could get.

       "Why not work at my company? I will pay you well and you should be able to leave your father's house" I hugged her even tighter than before. I was so happy and for the first time since my mom died, I smiled.

      

        "Thank you so much" I said repeatedly. I felt like a load had just been removed from my chest.

       Stella had to tap out from how tight my hug was. We both ended up laughing when I finally left her.