I have been known to have vivid dreams that can either make me laugh or drive me crazy. One has recurred for many years now. If I were Joseph, from the Old Testament, I might be able to make sense of it. There are many experts out there who believe that our dreams have meaning. They can help solve life situations. They can work through daily tasks and help us organize thoughts. If your name was Freud, you would probably blame your parents for these dreams. My short story today is fiction, but the dream isn’t. I hope you enjoy

A single ray of light poured through the drapes as Mary sat on the edge of her bed. It seemed to dance around head as she thought about the night before when complete darkness surrounded her.  She was getting used to being by herself during the nighttime hours, but lately her dreams had begun to haunt her.  She felt anxious about falling asleep and enduring yet another dark vision – afraid that she would wake in a cold sweat and trembling with fear.

Those who were no longer in her life, especially those dear to her, would surface in those dreams. It never took Mary long to fall asleep. It was only seconds after she hit the pillow.  Still, she was troubled thinking where last night’s dream left off.  Would it continue this next night as if an extended episode latching on to the previous illusion?  Would the characters change?  Would the situation mature as it went on?  Would the dream never end? Dreams can cause us great distress when they aren’t connected.  We feel disjointed or as if we were hanging on by a thread.

Mary would often wake when one of these dreams hit a high point, or convicted her in some way.  She would try to interpret them as soothsayers might have done centuries ago. How do you make sense of something that swiftly blends into something else?  Locations are muddied by the intensity.  It was as if she was running from one thing in her brain to another, without stopping to enjoy the moment.

This recently widowed woman had not had time to grieve as she expected she would. The one she lost was more than a partner.  He was an extension of her.  Together they raised three children.  Family meant a great deal to both of them.  Grandchildren came and were nurtured by her and her husband.  They always knew how to manipulate grandma and grandpa.  They suffered financial hardship, success, loss and laughed with and at each other. 

His long illness was perhaps her grieving time as she watched him become someone she didn’t recognize.  The vigor and enthusiasm he had a corner on, was slowly diminishing with the invasion of a disease that could not be stopped.  She put up with his criticisms of her.  She tolerated the inconvenience of countless doctor visits. She did these things because of their bond not because she was required to.  She became his primary caregiver until it became necessary to get outside help.  Each day, she thanked Jesus for another day.  There were times when she wasn’t sure what to pray for – healing or heaven.

After pondering all of this, Mary decided to give in and fall asleep. It took just seconds, and she was a young woman again, with three school aged children in tow.  She had dreamed this same dream over and over for many years – even into her old age when these same children were grown and had children of their own. Out of the depths of her darkest thoughts came the familiar haunting.

Did she remember to pack school lunches for her children?