Beautiful Dreamer

Chapter Two

On a breezy April afternoon, Grandma Linda was in bed all day. She was the weakest I had ever seen her. She slept most of the time. Candy was sitting by the foot of her bed, pouting and whining every once in a while. He was also the most low-energy he had been, or ever could have been. He probably sensed that Grandma was on her deathbed, and shared our sadness in watching it. Mom and I refused to give up, and begged Grandma, with tears in our eyes, to let us call the doctor or something. But she wouldn't hear it. She insisted that it was her time.

About an hour before midnight, she called me into her bedroom. I walked in, teary-eyed and afraid to face the last Grandma-Granddaughter Talk I might ever have. She was looking at me expectantly, clutching a mahogany box— the mystery box from the attic. She beckoned to me urgently. I went and sat by her side on her bed, slightly shaking.

She looked at me with those kind, warm brown eyes, and croaked, "My dearest Granddaughter Willy."

She was the only one who called me that. I choked on my tears. I couldn't even think straight.

"I told you a long while ago, when you had asked me, that I would tell you the purpose of the wooden box when you were ready. I think you are very ready. You have become a kind, intelligent, and brave young woman. You will make our ancestors proud, I know it."

At this point I was pretty confused. I was also pretty sure that whatever Grandma had to tell me, I was not ready at all. I was anything but ready. I was neither kind, intelligent, nor brave. I was scared and miserable. I was not ready to loose my loving Grandmother. That made me too crushed and delirious to ponder over her words.

She must have been reading my mind or something, because she chided me, "Oh my dearest child, don't despair. I am here right now, am I not? Cherish this moment we have right now, and every moment after that. So that you may never regret not making the best out of any one of them."

She opened the mystery box, revealing an old-looking key inside. But this key was different; it was a pendant. It was the pendant I had seen her wearing at all times. She never took it off, often hiding it under her clothes. But I hadn't seen it for the past few years. She took out the necklace, and handed it to me.

"This is The Key, an ancient talisman handed down in our family for thousands of generations. It contains untold powers over time. It can help the wearer see the future, control it, or possibly even travel through time. I've never tried that much, but you could if you wanted to. This now belongs to you."

I stared at her. I wasn't sure I had heard her right. I couldn't believe my ears.

"G-Grandma, you are making absolutely no sense." I mumbled in unease. I was afraid that her weakness was making her loose her marbles. I had no idea she would say something like this, I had though she was just praising me to make me feel better.

She chuckled. "I know I sound crazy, but you will believe me in time. You have the gift of our ancestors in your blood, use it. Do good whenever you possibly can. Your dreams shall guide you. Follow them. It will all make sense when you face the truth."

I clenched "the Key" furiously in my hands, tears racing down my cheeks from my heated eyes.

Grandma sighed. "Alas, my time has come. I must leave this pitiful world, in hopes that you will help it. I will always love you and carry you in my heart."

"Grandma, don't say that! You're g-going to be fine. I know you are. You're not leaving us so suddenly. P-Please don't.." I tried to gulp back more tears, but somehow I have never had any power against them. I clutched Grandma's hand, and she kissed mine gently. I hugged her lightly, not wanting to hurt her frail body. She gave a faint sigh of content, and closed her eyes. I felt her grip on my hand loosen. As she drifted away from this pitiful world, I sobbed softly at her side, not wanting to let go.

[ Heartbreaking, right? ;( ]