Escape to Reality (Coming Soon)

Prologue

this goes out to @TheeGod

for the pretty story cover. :)

I sat there waiting looking out the window at the blue sky softly grazing the green cornfields as the scenery slowly changed. Sadness started to seep in at the realization of leaving the only place I have known. I have had so many memories in this place...I'm going to miss it. I couldn't help it. North Dakota was my home for so many years; I had lived in this town my whole life.

I know what you're thinking, 'You, my friend, are crazy.' And to some extent I probably was, and I could see why you would think I'm insane for saying I would miss oil field workers and cornfields. But I would...this is my home; my whole life is in this town. But I had to leave this place, because with all the good memories left sad ones. To be honest, I have no reason to stay here. I have no family here anymore, no real friends. The life I knew here, it was no longer in existence.

I looked over from the window of the greyhound bus to the young lady sitting in a row next to me. She was looking out the window, oblivious to the world. Her dark, brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun. From the dark rings around her eyes, it was pretty clear to me that she had barely slept lately. I wondered what her story was, why she was leaving town. That thought soon faded as I laid my head on the window sill. I hadn't got much sleep in days and would die for just a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Hopefully, that was what I would get as I slowly drifted off to sleep.

Darkness. Darkness, was the only thing I saw as I heard the sound of someone's voice. "We pray Lord that you would lift his soul up to you and that you would bless this family Lord, and that you heal their wounds," the preacher prayed gently to heaven.

I lifted my head and looked around to see I was in the old church my family used to go to, but hadn't been in years. The red cushion church pews were filled with family and friends I hadn't seen in ages. Looking back to my side, I saw my mother crying on my father's shoulder as the song 'If I Don't Make It Back' started playing softly through the speakers. I looked up to the stage in the front, and I saw a dark, wooden casket opened, but we were too far away for me to see anything inside of it. A half folded American flag was draped over the bottom half of the casket that was closed, and I thought to myself, 'Why am I here? I don't know anyone who has passed away.'

"At this time the family may come forward and say their goodbyes," the preacher spoke and gestured for me and my parents to come up when I looked at him. My heart then grows heavy in my chest as it picked up pace.

My father stood up and helped me and my mother to our feet. Holding us, he slowly led us down the red carpet aisle. My head looking off in many directions looking for any sign that would tell me who I was about to see lying in that casket. My heart rate rapidly increased as I turned back to see we had almost made our way to the end of the aisle and to the awaiting casket. Once there, my mother burst into tears, collapsing on whoever lied in the casket, and also blocking my view of finding out who it was. My father placed his hands on my mother's shoulder and whispered softly into her ear. After a few more minutes, my father helped my mother up and held her as they walked away; leaving me to finally see who it was. Walking closer, my heart plummeted to the floor when I finally saw the body of my brother lying in the casket and tears started streaming down my face.

It was my brother's lifeless figure I couldn't find the strength to look away I couldn't even breathe for that matter. How could this happen? My brother and best friend couldn't be gone.

Suddenly the sound of frightened screams filled my ears. Only moments later did I realize that they were my own as my brother's hand shot up, grabbing my arm, and pulled me down to him.

"This is your fault. You did this to me." His voice sounded as he looked me dead in the eyes.

I jolted awake breathing heavily as if I had been running for miles with tears streaming down my face. When I looked around, I noticed that I was back on the bus with no one paying any mind to me. So much for peaceful sleep I thought to myself as I sat up wiping the tears off my face. My heart slowly started to calm down in my chest.