The Crest
Chapter 9: Dream One

“Comment es-tu mon cheri? How are you, my love?” Dennis asked.

"Je desire ardemment ton étreinte.” I long for your embrace?” Danielle replied.

“I know my love, I know.”

“I miss you so much. I don’t know how much longer I can carry on,” she answered.

He seemed at peace, calm, glowing. ”You must go on. The world needs you.”

She gazed at him. ”Please come home.”

He smiled at her. ”I can never come home, you know that.”

She wept. ”I love you so much.”

“And I have always loved you.”

“You need to come; I am so alone,” she pleaded.

“You are not alone. There are people that care about you. I am watching over you always.”

“Will you wait for me, until I can meet you?” she asked.

“Of course. I will always be here for you.”

Danielle awoke from her dream in tears. She sobbed. Hers was a pain too deep to overcome. A heartbreak that would never mend. She lay curled in a ball on her bed, deep in a desolation, in a state of hopelessness that no one could penetrate.

She decided to end her life. She sat up on her bed and pulled out the loaded gun from the drawer. She’d picked it up several times before, for the same reason, failed to pull the trigger; but she was determined that this would be the time. She opened her mouth and placed the barrel inside. The cold barrel of the gun tasted caustic. She hesitated, angling the gun upwards. She placed her thumb on the trigger and steadied the gun with both hands.

Then his gentle words came. ”Please, my love, put the gun away. Your time is not up yet.”

“Where are you? I need you now,” she said out loud.

“I am with you always and forever my dear. I am by your side now.”

She looked around her bed but saw no one.

“The world is in ruins, my darling. You must help the others.”

After several minutes she no longer perceived his voice.

She lowered the gun and placed it back in the drawer.

“I don’t have the courage,” she said to herself.

She knew there would be a next time. Time passed; her alarm buzzed. She sat on the edge of her bed, dazed. Slowly, she began to dress herself and to prepare for the day ahead. She forgot about the gun.