Deep Dreams

A False Calm

The fog was dense, yet I knew I was close to home as the cobble streets turned into stone roads with ornate streetlamp and strong oak trees. I have now found myself in the Louisa district and as I strolled through this place of nobility, I could not help but feel disgusted at the people who lived here.
“Gluttonous pigs, the lot of them.”
I mumbled to myself and as I walked through heading to my home here, I swore I heard a voice speak to me.
“Come now my boy this is who we are, we deserve to be well off and eat like nobles… you are one of us.”
I snap around to look around to find no one and at this point the fog lightened. To my surprise I was still alone, but I just heard someone speak. I paused in a moment to the thought that the voice was that of my father’s. I shrugged the notion off and continued the path to my house.
After some time of walking, I have made it to the block where I resigned at. I looked around seeing that most of the houses lights were off. A sign of a community sound asleep, I made my way to the front gate of my home. The building itself was a two-story brick and wood mansion with a cottage design as well as having a deep oak finishing and stain glass. I stood there in front of the gate to my childhood house, a fake home. I buried my hand into my pocket to pull out the keys and as I did all I could heard was the sounds of the keys rattling. my hand was shaking, why? Why was I scared? Why was it so damn hard to stop the shaking.
“Damn it stop it you coward.”
Did I just mumble that to myself?
“Come on get a grip Jon”
Next thing I heard was the metal keys colliding with the cobblestone walkway as I heard my name.
“Jon?”
I snapped my eyes from the ground to my right side to see an elderly old black man who even from this distance I could smell a hint of sea salt.
“Mr. Hardy it has been some time. It is good to see you. How. how are you doing.”
He shuffled his way over here looking so tired but glad to see me as he picked up the house keys and handed them to me. His hands so worn and callus. Hands that told and showed a life story of a sailor.
“Come on Jon no need to be so formal, you can still call me pops. Hell, old man would be better than Mr. Hardy ha-ha-ha-ha.”
His laugh was still boastful and heavy as always and as his laugh faded a wave of worries swept over his face.
“Right my bad old man ha-ha. I will try and remember that. Anyways everything okay, you look worried.”
He smiled as he pated me on my shoulder.
“Good I rather keep it like the old days…”
He took a deep breath and allowed himself to exhale. The way he breathed reminded me of when I was a little boy of him showing Isaac and I how he was able to dive deep underwater without any gear. Old habits die hard and as I began to get lose in the memory his voice pulled me back to the present.
“Yeah, everything is okay with me I was just worried about you and all and well you know old age makes you more of a worrier I suppose.”
“Then you must have been old back in the day too”
I replied chuckling a little with an undertone of nervousness crept into my voice. Old man Hardy noticed because he asked me with a warm seriousness in his tone.
“Are you going to be okay spending the night in the house. I know your father is gone and all now, but I do not want to see you reliving that part of your life again”
I nodded and as I looked at him my focus was fixed on his words but also his eyes. I forgot how dark his blue eyes were; it was like I was staring at lowest depths of the ocean. It was mesmerizing how the cool blues mixed with inky black to create such a somber look to him.
“ I’ll be fine. I had time to think about it all while I was out at sea. I have to thank you for that pops, since you thought me how to sail as a young boy I was able to explore the world and myself. All the while I was able to collect and find ancient artifacts from lost civilizations and to bring them here to inspire more. More people to learn, to be open minded, and to venture towards the unknown.”

I said looking down at the stone road. Hardy leaned against the brick fence and there was a smile.
“you were always a good man Jon if you think you are okay with staying in that house then I won’t say anything. Just know I’ll be here for you just like the old days. Well the moon is climbing higher by the minute , might as well head back inside. I’ll see you later on tomorrow?” Hardy said.
“Yeah I’ll see you sometime tomorrow I’ll make sure I have time. Then we’ll have a proper talk about these past few years.” I replied as Hardy began to head back home. I looked down at the keys in my hand and fiddled with them until I had the pair of keys to the front gate and door. After that I found myself inside, looking around there was the mudroom where I took my shoes and coat off, stored them and made my way into the foyer. The foyer was emptied and plain expected for the royal purple runner rug and that damn family portrait located in the middle of the wall. A centerpiece for all visitors to see right as they enter the house.
I made my way right of the room, pass the painting and up the stairs leading to a hallway in front of me and a balcony to my left overlooking the foyer. There was another royal purple carpet running down to the end of the hall. As I walked down the hall I passed a set of heavy mahogany double doors to my left. I reached the end of the hall and to my right was a plain oak door, I opened it and walked into my old room. I walked in and everything was here before I left home six years ago. All my books, half finished paintings, music instruments that I once held and all the others hobbies I left behind, all untouched yet still cleaned. There was no signs of dust or anything, I couldn’t help but stood there taking it all in and as I did I could feel myself slipping like my soul was floating out of my body. It felt like I was looking at everything from over my shoulder, I took a deep breath centering myself before sitting down on my bed. The covers clean and made neatly, I took off my shirt and laid down pulling the covers over me then I felt myself sink into the bed as sleep was washing over me, over my exhausted body. As I fell into a blissful world of sleep the last thought I had was how unreal it all seemed.