Gifts

by Ethan Marsh

I wake up on a bed. The same one fell asleep on. I sit up, and exhale loads of air, relieving and refreshing myself instantly. I see everything that I remember the night before

  The lucid dream really got to me last night.

  “Roman! Your awake!” he says as he walks into the room from the large wooden door. I push the plaid blankets away when I remember everything.

  I remember the adrenalin.

  I remember Tedd.

  He rolled slowly in his wheelchair, creaking the floor with each movement of his hands.

  I have my memories stored into one thing. I hold the leather case up in my hand, open it, and pull out the packed item. The adrenalin is in this piece, or at least the mixed memories of it. I could feel the warmth and power as I squeezed it within my hands.

  “Yes, I am awake. And I've never been more happy, Tedd.”

  I slip out of my bed, and into my chair, rolling away to the kitchen, where I will feed myself a snack before Tedd cooks breakfast for me.

  In the cupboards, I find the same pretzels, the same exact snacks I found on my journey. The identical bag was even the same 'Carter's. It's good' brand. And the couches, the same cold couches from that house in my dream. I rolled over to them and dropped myself on, falling into the freezing cold leather. Amazing.

  I remember something. The basement, the dark, dirty menacing basement.

  I quickly get back on my chair and zoom away to that hallway. I open the door and fly down the ramp, excitement and curiosity taking over me. Adrenalin. That's what I feel.

  I freeze in my tracks when I see the room. It appears to be an office, the office of my father. Equipment much the same as in my dream crams the room to the tightest.

  In the corner, a little girl sits, crying, facing the wall. I double take, making sure I'm actually seeing this correctly. I am.

  I walk over to the girl and say, “Hey,” softly and nicely, trying not to disturb her sadness.

  She turns around, wiping the tears away from her face. Her large, rectangular glasses stared into my insane mind.

  Connie. Connie was this little girl. Connie is this little girl. My jaw drops open, but then I remember she has no indication of my lucid dreams. Nobody does.

  “What... What happened?” I ask, trying as hard as I can to act sympathetic, but all I can think about is the dream.

  “I was chased... by a crazy man,” she croaks in between sniffles and cries.

  I completely amaze myself sometimes. I knew who this man was. I knew who this man is. Henry.

  XVIII

  “Connie. What was this man's name?” I eagerly blurt, trying to get the information out of her.

  “I.. I don't know.” Crap.

  “Did he say anything to you? Anything at all?”

  “No, well not to me,” she begins. “When he was chasing me through the woods, he kept calling out 'Boy!' or 'Adrenalin!' at random times. I was so scared.”

  This, this is scary. There is no other word for it. Scary.

  How would this even be possible? Is my dream turning to reality? Or am I just going completely insane? Either way would be horrid.

  “Oh! Now I remember something! As I finally got back, he was calling a name like, 'Roman! Roman!'”

  I didn't even know what to say next.

  “What's my name?” I shout, for no apparent reason.

  She startles then says quietly, “You don't remember your own name, Steve?”

  Steve. My guardian. My dead guardian. Is me? I inhale fiercely, sucking in air, trying to make some sort of weird sense to all of this. I can't.

  I pass out, falling straight to the floor, unconscious. Impossible.

  When I awake, I really awake. I really am awake. It's not another dream, the inception is over. I live my life, alone with no family. No Tedd, no Connie, no Henry, if he ever even did exist.

  I figured out everything. Everything that made this situation messed up. This was all a mere fantasy.

  Roman, is based on my son. My striving and succeeding son, Jimmy. Connie, my sister. My younger sister, a veterinarian at a local pet hospital. Tedd, my father. My disappointed father. He's disappointed in me, for not living the life I could have lived.

  That leaves me. I, am based off of Henry. A crazy, insane man who roams the streets, looking for an adventure to go on, a life to live.

  I have not found it quite yet.

  For the readers who even want more, you'll just have to wait. Wait. Not long. Not short. Just wait.