Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 63 - Prayers of the Faithful

Susan was asleep by the time Greg felt ready to go to bed. She was dreaming, muttering in her sleep like she did in the old days. That hadn't happened in a while, so Greg lay awake listening, trying to get a clue about her dream. But he couldn't quite manage it. He found himself in the midst of a dream of his own instead.

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Susan woke up 30 minutes earlier than usual on Monday morning. At first she couldn't figure out what woke her. All was quiet in the house and her husband lay sleeping peacefully at her side. Then she rolled over and realized her head was throbbing.

"Mmm," she murmured to herself. "Tylenol ... definitely."

Susan padded off to the bathroom, intent on getting herself the medicine, and ended up taking a shower in an attempt to relieve the pain. That's where Greg found her when he awoke 30 minutes later.

"Good morning," he said softly through the steamy glass.

"Good morning," Susan said quietly.

"You've been in there a while. Are you okay?" Greg asked.

"Headache," Susan said.

"Is it helping?"

"Not that much. I'll be right out."

She turned off the water and stepped from the enclosure grabbing a towel. She wrapped it around herself before putting her hand to her head.

"Have you taken the medicine?" Greg asked.

"Yes. Before my shower. It hasn't started to work yet," Susan said. "Maybe I should get dressed and try some tea. Maybe that would help."

She started to dry off, but instead of heading to their closet to dress, she made a sudden dash to their toilet room. Greg heard her vomiting into the toilet bowl before she was able to close the door. He winced at the sound, but did his best to ignore it as he dropped his pajamas to the floor and stepped into the still warm shower Susan just left.

Thirty minutes later, they were both dressed, and Greg found Susan seated at the table beside the kitchen sipping her tea.

"Is it helping?" he asked for the second time that day.

"It's starting to," Susan said. "I suppose it's time to wake up the children?"

"It's early yet. You can wait a few minutes until you feel better if you'd like," Greg said.

Susan nodded. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head into her hand, sipped her tea and waited.

"You were dreaming last night," Greg said as he retrieved a cup of coffee for himself and joined her at the table. "Did you know?"

"I'm not surprised. I usually am when I get one of these," Susan said.

"Do you remember it?" Greg wondered.

"Not much. Did I say anything?" Susan asked.

"Nothing clearly, and the few words I did manage to make out I didn't recognize. I don't think it's one we share," Greg said.

"Mumm. Maybe not. Maybe not in the normal way," Susan said.

"What do you remember?"

"White. That's all, just white ... and light. Bright, brilliant, and soft all at the same time, all around me," Susan described.

"A light?" Greg asked.

"Yes and no ... I can see why some would describe it like that. It felt more like a welcoming presence, but one I couldn't hide from," Susan said.