The Summer Anthology ✔

Story #17- Reality

Written by user baoxian23

"Why is it you never get to have both? Why it must always be the other half only? Life is such a tragedy."

-JDB

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I am standing in a tunnel, I walked then I saw two balls of light. I think they want me to follow them but they are heading in opposite directions. I don't know what to follow so instead I stayed exactly where I am standing until the two lights go dimmer and dimmer. And everything went pitch black.

♡♡♡

MOM

"So tell me again, about these dreams your having" my shrink told me. Hasn't he been tired of asking me that question over and over, it's like the third time already. About my so called dreams.

"What's the point? If you won't even believe me? " I said stalling, not wanting to answer his question.

"Well I never said I didn't believe you, so please Claire"

I guess I just have to get over with it then, I mean it's the reason of getting a shrink, right? To be able to bare your soul? And make some understanding of it?

"I told you it wasn't a dream" I told him, making my face as blank as possible. I know he doesn't believe anything I've said. I hate it that he look so calm like the other shrink.

"okay, an alternate reality then and start again with the beginning please," he said. I know he is definitely mocking me.

I took a deep breath and then started with it " as I told you, I don't know if it was a dream.

It started after I woke up from my coma two months ago. I was in an accident with my parents, we were driving to the movies for my 17th birthday, well it was a week ago we're just celebrating it that time. It was only the time they weren't so busy. We were just 10 minutes away there, but suddenly there's a car in front of us. My dad lost the gear and we crashed.

I woke up in the hospital with my mom crying, telling me she'd been worried sick that I won't wake up and leave her alone. That's how I found out about my dad and apparently I'd gone Sleeping Beauty for 3 days.

I was so shocked, it was so sudden we were supposed to watch a movie and eat dinner , we were supposed to be happy but within a flash it all gone south.

I kept on crying that day until no more tears flowed, until I felt hollow and tired. I slept hoping that it was just all a nightmare.

And then when I woke up again I was still in the hospital but I felt something different. I look up and see a man sitting in the corner staring at me.

"you woke up hours ago, but your a little bit disoriented so you probably won't remember. The doctor said its normal considering you'd been out for a while. So how are you doll?"

ohmygawd! Its my dad, but how? Has my prayers been answered? Or am I just been dreaming? "where's mom? " I asked him immediately.

He stand up, walk beside me and took my hand in his. " I'm sorry doll" he said with tears flowing on his eyes. No that can't be, am I dreaming again this can't be happening! No not again! Is this some kind of a sick joke? Maybe something happened to my brain? It must been pretty banged up.

That's how it all began, with my accident. I am with my mom now but then I sleep and when I open my eyes I end up with my dad. I can't tell what is the reality and the dream between the two. They are both so real. Hell I don't even know if I am awake right now" I look at him as I am telling this wishing to catch some reaction with my shrink but he's a master poker face. He's the second person I've told this.

"well I can definitely tell you that this is not a dream and that I am definitely real," he told as it is a matter of fact.

I bit back a laugh but some must have escaped because I got some reaction with him. "what's so funny Claire? Don't you agree with me that this is the reality? "

I straighten up in my seat and answered him. "well, it's just that's exactly what the other shrink told me. You know the one in that alternate world of mine. You think I'm crazy? Well we're on the same page with that."

I'm getting tired of people telling me that'll everything is gonna fall back into pieces. I don't have PTSD like they all say. They can never understand what's going on nor a shrink would.

I tried to walk quietly, but apparently my mom heard me. "So how was it Sweetie?" she asked me over the kitchen.

"well it's fine, so far so good. " I said without even stopping I really don't want to talk about the stupid shrink. I'm almost out the stairs when she called me.

"Come here Sweetie. Do me some favor please. " so I reluctantly go to her.

"yeah?" She handed me a dish with a foil cover.

"I know you don't wanna talk about it but would you please, take this over to our new neighbor?" I nodded and took the dish from her.

I know I am being anti social this days, and this is my mom's way of making me interact with others. I know she hasn't moved on yet, she's just keeping it up together for me.

♡♡♡

I've been ringing the door bell twice now but no one's opening. I decided to leave when the door opened. A boy about my age stares at me.

"You!" I blurted out unintentionally.

" you know me?" the boy asked.

"I... Yeah, you're my new neighbor! Haha... Here something for you from my mom. Oh okay I should get going now bye. " I didn't even bother to check at his reactions, I just wanna get out if of there.

I don't know what's happening but I lied. I definitely know him just not from here. Not in this reality.