Dreams v2.0

"It's nice seeing you again"

"You have no idea"

"I really missed you, you know"

"SC, you stole the words right out of my mouth"

"JP..."

"shhhh, let's just walk"

The day was coming to an end, the sky, a vivid orange and the air still warm from another summer's day. The trail followed the contours of a slow moving river, trees line the coast.

"How has life been treating you JP? College treating you well?"

"It's been pretty good, quieter than I thought it was going to be"

"Hah, well you're still alive I see so that must be good"

"SC, I still don't know why I can't get you out of my head"

The ground became looser, small rocks studded the trail, crunching slightly with each of our steps.

"JP, come here"

he puts his arm around my waist, I do the same. It felt so good to be so close to him, his body next to mine. We continue to walk in unison, over small hills, wandering in and out of the shade, everything still bathed in a orange light.

"How's your senior year been going?"

"It's been good JP, trying to punch through it as I'm sure you knew too well"

"Crew's been good to you?"

"Yeah, things are much the same, I'm still in the same boat"

"Nice to hear that"

"Yeah"

"SC"

"yes?"

"You know this really isn't right"

"what do you mean?"

"I really don't want to get too attached, especially this close to the end of the year for you. I mean, I'm going to school here in D.C. but you said you were probably going to that school in New York. I'm really not in to that long distance e-relationship stuff"

"You know it could still work"

"I suppose but..."

"You should stop worrying so much about the future sometimes. You're the one who told me I should just enjoy...."

"enjoy the moment...."

By now we had stopped walking. for how long, I have no idea, all I know is that it's just him and me. His blue eyes still locked on to mine. He leans in stopping just short of our lips meeting. "just enjoy the moment" he whispered, and I give in. His warm lips felt so right against mine. We stood there in the tranquil setting, blissfully unaware of anything going on around us. As we stood side by side again and resumed following the beaten path along that lazy river, I felt such a high, like I'd just accomplished the greatest feat in all man kind. I knew this still wasn't how things should have been, but right at that moment I didn't care.

"So how long do you have before you head off to New York?"

"I don't know, a few weeks maybe, maybe more, maybe less"

"Too short a time per usual"
"Well JP, maybe that's all the time we need"

"SC, I want you to stay"
"That impossible"
"I know"

The sky was now getting darker. The sky was no longer orange, the sun had disappeared over the horizon and the dark blue of the quiet night was slowly sweeping over the land. We continued to walk in silence, hand in hand down the riverside trail, then the trail ended. The trail ended at a grand stairway, at the top we could hear cars, the bustle of urban life. What looked to be an office building, lights still decorating the looming grey facade peeked out over the top of the stairs.

"Race you to the top"

"You're on"

And we took off. Him on one end, me on the other, my heart began to race, my breathing deeper and faster as the scenery rushed by.

I opened my eyes. I wasn't on that trail anymore. No, I was on my couch, sprawled across its entire length staring at a white ceiling with pale streams of sunlight peeking from between the folds of the sheer white curtains. I was at home and everything came back into perspective. It was noon, I had just eaten breakfast a few hours ago and I could hear the TV quietly chattering on about the day's news in the adjacent room.

"fuck"

I whispered as I laid my head back down on the pillow.

Dreams are great things. They can transport you to new lands and places you've never imagined. Try as hard as I might, they take my deepest wants, fears, anything and everything and produce grand films in my mind, leaving me powerless to control what's going on, and leaving me confused about the boundaries between reality and imaginary when I wake. I only wish that sometimes they would be less vivid, or that I wouldn't remember them quite so well.

Maybe I should stop taking naps after breakfast

JP

*Happy Memorial Day, my prayers go to all those who have fallen in battle, and thank you to all the soldiers who defend our nation, because freedom isn't free*