Something In The Mist

The Sun's rays crept up upon the bed toward my eyelids. My sheets rumpled from movement. Another restless night, another nightmare.

My world was black and dad endlessly screamed “why?!”
“Why did it have to happen? Why did it have to be you?!”

“Derek, Derek get up you have school!” My dad shouted from behind the door. “Your breakfast is getting cold!” With that I moved, brushing away the dark blonde hair from my eyes.

I arrived at the table after quickly getting dressed, my father sat patiently waiting. “How's school?” he asked. “Fine.” I said. I was blunt such was usual hoping to quickly end the conversation. “Nothing, I just wanted to check in on my boy is all.” Just as soon as I had sat down the food before me was finished. Then, before dad could finish saying goodbye I was out the door.

You couldn't go five minutes without hearing it, mother. It was something you couldn't escape, mother. And everybody was talking about it, mother. It was a myth that had sprang up a few days prior and I finally got my full explanation at lunch. “Basically, it's about a woman who killed herself a few years back.” One person said.“An old cemetery worker first claimed to see her when a thick fog surrounded the
place!” “Whoa heavy” Someone replied “And they say the worker wouldn't stop murmuring the grave with a ring." Soon like a cascade people got more excited the more they spoke of it, a never ending cycle. Though I stopped listening a long time ago…

The sky was dark and cloudy, sad, as if god's eyes were getting teary as each moment passed. I stared at the distant hills motionless. Dad kept saying “Everything would be alright.” He also said not to worry “we would find it eventually.”

“Derek? Derek!” A voice shouted “Huh?!” I awoke from my daze, and was met with concerned looks.
My eyes stung and my hand moved to my face. When I looked at my fingers they were covered in tears. I got up from my seat and walked away.

By the time I got home the sun was setting. I wasn't exactly in a cheerful mood and, Dad wasn't much help. I tried to open his study door to no avail. I heard sobs. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that He was crying over a picture of her. I don't ever talk about her but she's all he ever thinks about. But, today was different. I kept on pondering about this mother thing. It was creepy yet, very intriguing. It took some serious self convincing but after a few hours, I decided to go.

11:55 pm

I stood outside the graveyard, alone in the dark. I snuck out when dad fell asleep, hopeful he would stay that way till morning. Only, what if He doesn't? What if He wakes up and finds me missing? How would I even begin to explain that? Still so, if I go back now, caught or not, this will all have been for nothing.

11:58pm

Maybe, maybe this is a bad idea. What if I do meet this ghost, what then? What do I expect to happen? What was possessed me to think this was a good call?!

11:59pm

Calm down I thought. This is just a rumor after all. I tread further into the labyrinth of stones. The farther I went, the higher my skepticism rose. This is fake! I thought

12:00am

My false realization came too late. As I spun around to make my escape.
"What the hell!" Before me a dense mist began to form closing off the exit. “I'm sorry” a voice said behind me. Terrified, I darted away. "No! This is not happening right now!" I hastily searched for a way out but I remembered something from lunch '...they say the worker wouldn't stop murmuring the grave with a ring…' I went out on a whim, and began my search for the stone of legend.

The rows of the dead seemed to go on forever, until I found it. The grave looked strange as if it didn't belong though it look the same. My eyes began to sting, I felt it. The pain. The tears welling up in my eyes. I read the name, twice, three times it would ring in my head. Rebecca Smythe, my mother. I turned unable to bare, but what I saw next was worse. A woman, extremely pale with dark bags under her eyes and tears that stained her face. “I'm sorry” she mouthed. I couldn't believe it, though I could see it. I then reached out to touch her and as I did a bright flash of light engulfed my vision.

Images of strife and sadness surrounded me. Scenes of regret and sacrifice;Her body as lifeless as I had found her.
When my sight returned I could only cry out “Mom, I love you so much!”. She smiled and said “That's all I’ve ever wanted to know.”
Our time was limited, that much was certain. She disappeared in a shimmering light and I was left alone, fading to black.

I opened my eyes and was shocked to find myself home, in my bed. I felt at peace, more so than I've been in a long time. I was further stunned to peer over at my dresser and find my mom's long lost diamond ring. With details that required explanation I didn't have, confusion running a muck. I was left pondering if it was a dream or not.