Wildest Dreams

Chapter 3

The day ticks by slowly and I can't keep my mind off of her. I make multiple trips to the kitchen to alleviate my restlessness, but nothing seems to help. I lean back in my chair, the cheap plastic creaking underneath my weight as I stare towards the fluorescent lights that hang from the ceiling.

Her red lips, the way her dress flowed in the breeze, her skin glowing in the sunset. She held me and promised to never let go, and I didn't want her to either. She loved me and I loved her just the same. I need to find her again.

"What's going through that pretty head of yours?", Morgan asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

I shake away the fogginess in my head and look at him, a slightly irritated expression on my face.

"Nothing", I tell him.

"Come on, there's always something you're thinking about", he teases.

I sigh and accept my fate. I know Morgan won't let this go, and it's only a matter of time before the rest of the team gangs up to interrogate me.

"I had this dream this morning..." Morgans face splits into a grin but I quickly correct him. "Not that kind of dream. I was with this woman and... she was perfect. We were in love and we talked about having a family together. She kept asking me if I would remember her, and of course, I said yes, but I was never able to figure out what she meant. When I started to wake up, she begged me not to leave and I tried so hard to stay asleep, but", my voice cracks. "I wasn't strong enough.

Derek puts a comforting hand on my shoulder and gives me an apologetic smile.

"It was just a dream, man. I know these kinds of things can stick with you, but she's not real."

"I know that, but I learned that the brain can't create human faces, so whoever she was, I've seen her before. I made a promise to her, and I would feel terrible if I didn't at least try to find her."

"Don't do that to yourself. You're going to spend the rest of your life looking and probably never find her. I'd hate to see you beat yourself up over a woman who may not be real."

I nod sadly. I know I won't find her, but what is the real harm in trying?

Morgan looks down at his watch and taps the face, drawing my attention to his wrist.

"It's six, Reid. Go home and get some rest. I'm pretty sure I heard Hotch and JJ talking about a case and we need you in tip-top shape", he jokes.

Six? Where did the day go?

Morgan leaves the office and I pack my things from my desk and leave shortly after. I make it in time to catch my train and while I am waiting for my stop, I scan the crowd of people.

My eyes land on a woman with bright red lips and my heart skips but upon closer inspection, that is the only similarity between her and the woman. While I am walking down the sidewalk to my building, I pass a woman in a long, flowing dress that reminds me of... What was her name?

When I get into my apartment, I drop my bag by the door and immediately head to the kitchen. I make myself a cup of mac and cheese and eat it in front of my TV, but I am too consumed by my own thoughts to realize that I never turned it on.

As soon as I finish eating, I discard my bowl in the sink to be washed later and go into my bedroom. I take off my cardigan and unbutton my shirt, throwing both of them towards my hamper but both falling short. I take off my belt and unzip my pants before stepping out of them. I am left standing in my pink briefs and I jump into bed before I get too cold.

My head hits the pillow and my eyes immediately fall shut. I didn't realize how tired I am until I feel my body relax into my soft bed. My thoughts slow, but I end up dreaming instead of sleeping.