The Boomerang Effect

~4~

It's different this time. I'm walking up the hill, the same one with the vast surroundings of green meadows. As the top of the hill is coming into view, I see him and instead of a picnic, he's lying against a tree. I smile, the tree's similarities to The Giving Tree are so close it almost makes me laugh. He reaches for the lowest branch and grabs an apple and holds it out to me. I walk to him and take it. I look down at him, and slowly sit down. I rest my head against the tree and he scoots closer so we are shoulder to shoulder. I rest my head on his shoulder and we just sit there, breathing in and out in sync.

"I miss you," I say.

"I know, but you need to leave me," he says.

I look up at him, "but... I can't. You're all I have right now. This world, this dream. I can't let it go."

Suddenly, I can hear the beeping of monitors.

"You need to be able to leave and live your life."

Their getting louder, and I know at any second I will be pulled back into reality.

"I can't... just a little longer? Brian please, I need you."

I hear his breathing catch with his hesitation, silent debating this plea of mine.  

"Okay," he finally says.