Mei's Courage-A Lion King Story

The Dream

It all started when I was seven years old. My deep ocean blue eyes would gaze out in wonder as the wind blew my black curly hair down to the middle of my back. And the adventure happened three days before the last day of school. I had a few encounters with the scraggly lion along with my cousin, Rani, who is the same age but younger by 5 months. She is a girl with South Asian skin, dark wavy hair, just like my uncle Joshua, and the most gorgeous jade green eyes. The first encounter with the dark lion was at the Hazbin Hotel, where my uncle had confronted Valentino (part of an evil sect called the Vees that side of the Pentagram) for his horrible treatment of Angel Dust. Of course, King Mufasa was with him. Rani and I knew him, alright. He is a strong lion with the golden tuft of fur with a red mane. He is kingly and authoritative but kind. Rani thought of him as a teddy bear when she was younger and I thought of him as an angel in the form of a lion. Another encounter was after the dragon rage that Gyrados did, and the dark lion for some reason saved both of us. We stuck by him and while we were settling a score with Meowth, Rani and I both learned that Mufasa was king of the Pridelands and the dark lion beside him was his younger brother. Who'da thunk?!

That time, I was having visions of the same dark lion...and the latest one was intense and scary.

Oh no!! Not again!! I thought worried.

I was alone, in the darkness running amid a pile of bones—elephant bones, no doubt. I looked around, hearing the sinister cackles of hyenas in the background. Alert and aware, I slowly tiptoed amid the bones to see the same dark lion...what transfixed me was his neon green eyes sinisterly glowing, eyeing me as if I was his prey!

Be prepared...Whispered the voice. It was mysterious, yet secret.

Then the dark lion lunged for me as I backed away in fear....

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!" I screamed, awake now from the nightmare. It was Friday morning; 4 a.m.

I felt a panic attack coming as I fainted but I fought back against it, not wanting to wake everyone up.

"Mei-Mei? Honey, are you okay?" My mom's gentle and worried voice asked as she cradled my head on her shoulder. I nodded, trying not to cry. My mom is a beautiful woman with Asian skin, bone straight hair in a ponytail and beautiful brown eyes. She is a doula part time for new mothers giving birth to their babies, and she is a voice teacher at the Beck Center for the Arts.

"Was it that same scary dream again?" My mama, Bridget asked. She is from Ireland and she recently got her dual citizenship. She is a beautiful lady with beautiful fair skin, red wavy hair and hazel eyes. Mama Bridget works part time as a head cashier at Giant Eagle. You would often see her Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. Other times, she would be teaching self defense classes. "Aww, it's okay, darling."

"We've got you, baby girl." My mom soothed.

"Oi, everything alright, loves?" Sweeney Todd, also known as Benjamin Barker asked sleepily yet soothingly as he sat up in bed. His skin was pale, his brown eyes were mysterious. He smoothed a strand of his messy wavy black hair; with it was a white stripe on the right side of his head from years of trauma. Sweeney and I knew each other in Victorian Era London, but that's another story that I will tell you for another time. Sweeney is my godfather, and he is one of my father figures.

"Mei just had a nightmare." Mama Bridget softly explained.

"Poor sweet, come 'ere, my little love..." Sweeney soothed to me as he cuddled me on his lap. He kissed my forehead as he got the bottle of lavender lotion out from in his pocket and in slow, soothing circles, he rubbed my face, my shoulders and arms, chest and tummy with the lotion.

The reason why he was doing that was because when I was three years old, I was diagnosed with a panic attack; and the first time that ever happened was when my uncle Joshua was emptying the dishwasher, and then his chest hurt and he was sprawled out on the floor. I tried waking him up a few times but when he didn't answer, that was when I got scared and screamed for help. Then I had fainted. Uncle Eli did the blood work and that was the proof that I developed a panic attack. Whenever I see someone I know get hurt, that's when the panic attacks come, but do you know what helps me calm down? Lavender and vanilla lotion, also lullabies help me.

Come to Me
All who labor and are heavy burdened
And I shall give you rest. My mom softly sang to me. Mama Bridget smiled hearing my mom and me sing. Sweeney as well.

Take up My yolk and learn from Me
For I am meek and humble of heart
And you'll find rest for your souls
Yes, My yolk is easy
And My burden is light. I sang along with my mom.

"There you go, sweet..." Sweeney tenderly soothed.

"You remember that song, baby girl." My mom leaned in to kiss my cheek.

"I will." I smiled as I lay in Sweeney's arms.

"Love you, darling." Mama Bridget kissed my forehead.

"Love you too." I said tenderly.

"Sleep sweet, my love." Sweeney kissed my cheek as he ran his fingers through my soft curly hair.

"You too." I yawned as I fell back asleep.