by Beth Hoyer
Anne,
I’ve been home for days now. I saw when I arrived home with Dad, the cats Vicki and Demi were both sniffing my feet like I was a stranger but they let me pet them separately. Both cats didn’t complain when I picked them up and held them separately for a minute. Demi just rubbed her face on my face while Vicki rubbed my ear. I guess they miss me. It was so good to be at my Dad’s house. The night I got home I got up the stairs and jumped on my bed and clutched my pillow to my chest. I looked around my room and it was the same except for some areas that looked like they were clean of dust. I think Dad has been doing the cleaning in here. I was so happy to be home. I just am so glad to be home and cured of the virus, Yay.
During the night I slept fine with no weird dreams and that one of the cats slept on me like it was their way of saying “Good your home and I want to snooze on you.”
Dad told me after work, during my days of being home, with the cats while he worked, that Gramma and Grampa Najinov are coming over to see me along with Zoya, Aunt Svetlana and my Mom too. They’ll be coming a certain day according to him so it’ll be good to see them and my cousin Zoya too.
Later the certain day the Grandparents, Mom, Zoya and Svetlana came and I was so happy to see them. Gramma also had her vanilla cake with her. She solved the mystery by telling me it was a tradition in Russia to give cakes on important dates in her family, which is very interesting. We had a little party for my home coming. My parents for the first time since their divorce were in the same house together chatting and laughing, apparently getting along with each other. I saw Zoya who I greeted with a big hug. It was nice to do that because I missed her quite a lot. Zoya hugged me back and we spent the party time pouring over the contents of my journal with the weird stuff in it. We even spent time in my room discussing subjects and the wolf changing ability in sign language talk. It’s according to Zoya a Humanoid race called Amula which is a hidden family secret that we don’t want other people to know of. Oh I’ve started a new journal because I finished the one I was using while under the virus the night I got home.
I just wrote on the last page of that journal in big letters: “It’s so good to be home and slightly sane.”
The slightly sane remark was a joke. I was trying for a humorous attempt to finish the journal. Whew, it was good to see my family and spend the time with them.
As for Bruce, our relationship will have to be long distance for a bit by letters, phone and email for awhile because he lives in an area in Wolfville, Connecticut that’s near my Grandparents’ house. I still want a relationship with him and so does he. I still like him and he does like me too. I figured I could always live at the Grandparents’ house and see him from time to time, which means I have to agree with Dad’s wishes of me going to college in Wolfville while living with the Grandparents. Oh that’s a small price to pay just to see Bruce and continue the relationship with him but it’ll be good to do that.
I’m so glad that my life is back to normal now. It sure was weird being under the virus. I sometimes wonder what happened to the people other than Sue and Bruce and the things I saw while under the virus but I guess their parts of my imagination. I also sometimes wonder if these people and things were real and I think how I will react if I see them. I guess the virus according to Mom made me see many things that it was hard to tell the truth from the fakes. I do know that Sue is real and so is Bruce but me still wondering about the other things too. I guess I better enjoy life the best I can to the fullest because life isn’t meant to be easy all the time. Life is something that can be cut short in an instance so I’m trying my best to enjoy life the best I can. I never know what the future can bring.
From,
Elizabeth Zeskaya
Epilogue
Annika spoke as the sun’s light was becoming dim “The story ends here so go to bed off springs.”
She eyed the off springs who appeared to look excited by what she told them hurried obeyed to her order except Nikolas who was staring at her with a look in his narrowed golden eyes.
She frowned to look at him back while speaking “What is it anyway? You’re implying something Nicky so talk.”
Annika gave Nikolas a glare who didn’t glare despite the use of the name Nicky that spoke “Interesting story told in that format despite others using some other way of telling peoples’ stories. Where did you come up with that anyway?”
She sighed and spoke “Its something that I’ve been dreaming for awhile so don’t scold me on that format use anyway.”
She glared at Nikolas who gave up hysterical laughter sounds before cutting the sound off and speaking “Well you solved a problem that has been hitting the Hayu for awhile which involves dreaming of people’s lives elsewhere and plagued with having that dream in their minds for awhile.”
She frowned as Nikolas cleared his throat then continued “The problem you solved involving telling off springs the story instead of focused on trying to write it down and plagued with not much writing material around hence they having trouble sleeping. I figured if we dream of something interesting we would tell the off springs of it instead of putting it to writing and reading it to them. Besides you seemed to sound like you were happy having to tell the off springs the story from the sound of your voice indicating it during the story telling.”
Annika sighed hearing Nikolas’s comments who added “Also did you notice the looks of the off springs’ faces when you told them the story? You got them excited enough to not fall asleep like they’ve been doing from time to time during story telling time regardless its from me telling the story verbalized or from some writing form mostly about my namesake anyway.”
She exhaled a breath and inhaled as Nikolas stopped talking which she spoke “Interesting hearing that from you. Telling the story sure did help me feel much better and I guess I won’t be plagued with dreams of it anymore.”
She saw Nikolas nod his head in some Human gesture of yes which she heard “Annika! Come to the hut and sleep now!”
She sighed recognizing the voice as Theo calling her got a pat on the shoulder from Nikolas who gestured her to go which she obeyed going to the hut where Theo stood with arms folded looking serious.
She frowned as Theo spoke “Now this time I’ll get some sleep without having to wake up hearing you screaming from some dream hitting you.”
She didn’t comment a response as Theo unfolded his arms and hugged her then took her hand and led her into the hut which she thought to herself “Well at least I’ll get some sleep this time and at least I’ll know what to do if I have such a dream hit me again.”
Annika once in the hut smiled and laid down next to Theo putting the blanket on her up to her chest and she shut her eyes sensing she had solved a problem plaguing her and the Hayu allowed sleep to overcome her along with the dreams.