In My Dreams

Wishes

Rok held his mother's hands with a smile on his face. She was beautiful and vivid. Her hair cascaded down her back like melted chocolate. Her eyes were a warm brown. The only indication of her form was by the translucence of her pale skin. She touched his cheek with one hand, still holding onto his with the other. She smiled back. 

"You've grown to be such a handsome man. I am so proud of you. I have always been watching you, my dearest son," she cooed. Rok's heart squeezed. He tightened his grip on her hand. 

"I have missed you, Mama. So much," he spoke softly. She looked up at him with the same kindness he remembered as a child. 

"I have missed you, too, sweet Andrew. But you cannot stay. It is not yet your time."

Rok shook his head. "Andrew died as soon as I turned into an orc, Mama. The enchantress destroyed him."

His mother looked at him with a sad smile. She tsked and patted his cheek. "Whether an orc or a human, you are always my son. Go back home, Andrew. Go back home to your wife. She needs you."

"Mama, wait!" Rok's eyes filled with tears as he tried to hug her. She began to fade into the air. "Mama!" he cried out before she vanished completely. Darkness crept into his vision and consumed him completely.  

***

Rok's eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes slowly. His head ached like crazy, but he was alright. At least, he felt alright. He looked around in a daze. Where was the Notherbeast? Wait—Clara! He bolted to a sitting position. He froze when he saw her figure. 

She sat in front of him, covered in blood and dirt. Her hair was matted and tangled with leaves and twigs. Tear stains glittered on her dirty cheeks. Her green eyes glistened, but it was no longer sadness that shone in them. It was shock.  His eyebrows furrowed. He looked down to see where she was looking—what she could be staring at. 

What he expected to be his green hands came back to his vision in tan skin. He stared at his fingernails, his knuckle hair, the extreme difference in hand sizes. He wiggled his fingers. He looked down at his body. His clothing was freshly clean—brown tunic, black pants, and black leather boots. He wiggled his toes in his boots. Human feet. Human hands. He shook his head and touched his face. Clean-shaven jaw, shaven temples, loose wavy hair on top. He pulled his lips—No tusks. No fangs. He poked his teeth, feeling around for sharp teeth. Human. He was a human. He had turned. His curse was lifted. How could it be? 

He looked up and grinned in amazement at Clara. "Clara, you did it. You really did it. You saved me," he whispered. 

"A—A—A—Andy—no, y—you can't be. It's another trick," Clara shook her head, her body shaking. She scrambled to her feet and put out her hands, ready to fight if she needed to. She didn't really kill the Notherbeast. It was all a trick. She was in another spell-induced slumber—another dream! Yes!

"I—it's me, Clara. It's me. I—It's okay—"

"No! I'm asleep! No—I'm dead! I never escaped the Notherbeast! I'm dead!" she began to sob. She tried to run. 

"Bin mog g'thazag cha!" Andrew suddenly shouted. "That's what my character used to say to yours when we played in college! Do you remember?" 

Clara froze. She slowly turned around. "I—It means—," Andrew urged. Clara ran up to him and kissed him. Andrew was paralyzed for a moment. Then, something in him came alive and he hugged her tight. His mouth moved with hers, like a symphony. He closed his eyes and smelled the dirt in her hair. He reveled in the realness of her skin against his. Her warmth enveloped him and filled him with joy. After a breath, they finally let go. 

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Clara said, breathlessly. She touched his eyebrows, his nose, his cheeks, his lips. He shook his head with a sad look. 

"You hated me. How could I?"

"Hate you? I thought you hated me! I told you—well, I told Rok—I—," Clara fumbled. 

Andrew wrapped her face in his hands and shook his head again. He touched his forehead with hers and looked into her bright green eyes. "I don't hate you. I've been so awful to you. I'm so sorry, Clara. I love you."

"I—I love you too, Andy," her voice wobbled. 

I love you...

Andrew and Clara held tightly to each other. They didn't notice the trees around them fading. They didn't notice the grass under them whisking in the distance. They didn't notice the wind dying, the birds vanishing, or darkness creep over them like a storm cloud. They smiled at each other and kissed again. They held each other with every bit of will in them. 

Darkness fell upon them fully.