The Promise

Prologue

I'm somewhere warm. 

I feel like I'm floating but also grounded. I stretch my limbs out like a cat under the sun as I feel the warmth beam down on me from above. 

I realize that I have my eyes closed and slowly open them, peeping through the brightness of the day. I sit up and I notice that I am surrounded by yellow and purple flowers. There's hundreds. Maybe thousands. As far as the eye can see is the stretch of beauty and sky. There are clouds but they are big and fluffy, with no promise of rain. They look like a work of art as they float effortlessly in the sky. If I were awake I would have been jealous of them, but I am perfectly happy where I am. I know I am dreaming. 

In the middle of the field of flowers, I stand and start walking. I have no where in particular in mind, I just want to take a walk. I run my fingers through the soft flowers and they gently graze my hand as I glide through the field. 

A hand reaches for mine. I'm not startled or confused, just curious. I look down at the hand that has ahold of my own and my eyes slowly make their way up an arm and a shoulder and to a face. I can't see his face, but I know he has one. He is wearing a white robe and although I don't know what his face looks like, I know he is beautiful. I can only be comforted by his presence. 

"Hello", I say. "Who are you?" I give this faceless man another glance, a quizzical look on my brow and continue walking with his hand still holding mine. 

"How do you like the flowers?" He asks. I look at them again, and a smile appears on my face. How could I not? They are beautiful. 

"I love them. Yellow is my favorite color." 

"And purple was your grandmother's", he says. How does he know that? He is right, though. My wonderful Nanna. I wonder if she will have cookies ready for me when I wake up. She always spoils me. 

"Amber," he says, "do you know who I am?" What does he mean by that? I just asked him who he was. I am now confused and don't know what he means. I stop walking and look at him. I try to make out any features that will give me any sign of recognition, but I can't make anything out. If it was any other circumstance, I probably would be frightened to see a man without a face, but with him I feel safe and warm. It is strange and different but also comfortable and peaceful. 

"How am I supposed to know who you are if I can't see you?" Even though I can't see his face, I know he's smiling. 

"Just because you can't see something doesn't mean you don't know it's real, Amber, remember that." He starts backing away and I can feel myself coming to the brink of consciousness. I don't want to leave. It's warm here. 

"Where are you going?" I ask, afraid he might leave and never return. He turns back. 

"You will know who I am, Amber." The world around me fades away as I come back to reality. 

"I am with you" is the last thing the man says right before I wake up.