Author: Jenny R. Giroux
Date: June 1, 1998 3:09am
Author's notes: This story was first intended to involve my character McCaviety, Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes, and Neil Gaimen's character, The Sandman, who is the King of Dreams. However, while writing it I decided that the way in which The Sandman was interfering with the lives of the other characters are ways in which we all might wish someone would do for us. As humans we collectively dream of the possibilities our lives offer us, in all aspects of life, not just love. So, I redesigned the story so that you, reader, may put yourself or perhaps someone you know into the story. It is not just a story about two humans and The Dream, but a story of possibilities in your life as well. Enjoy your readings, and have sweet dreams.
Give Up Forever
"And just what would you dream of if you had the choosing?" The Dream King asked, amused.
She opened her mouth to answer immediately but shut it again in hesitation. She sincerely gave the question some thought.
"I suppose, "she said finally, "I would dream of the possibility."
"The possibility?" Dream repeated.
"I will always wonder, what if?" She explained. "What if he had loved me as much as I loved him? What if he did and his fool pride kept him from my side? What if I had compromised myself, my principles and stayed by him? What would my life have been, had I his love?"
Dream smiled, "One would think that was a question for my sister. Affairs of the heart are stereotypically hers."
She sighed and looked down at her feet. " I know."
"However," Dream added, "the possibility almost always lies in my realm."
He raised his hand and covered her eyes. "Sleep, little one, and dream of the possibility." He whispered. She slumped forward, sound asleep. He arranged her so she would be comfortable and vanished into The Dreaming.
She woke to find herself in a cotton nightdress. She was lying in a full sized bed in a room with the sun streaming in from behind pale white curtains.
"Where?" She started to ask out loud, as she was very disoriented.
"Oh wait." She remembered now. She was in her own bedroom. The one she shared with her husband, in the home the two had made together.
She glanced at the clock on the mantle. She had woken just in time. Her daughter would be waking soon to demand breakfast and her son would no doubt be up to his elbows in mischief already.
She rose and moved to dress. She was not surprised at all to find her husband's half of the bed empty. He often kept odd hours.
Once dressed she walked quietly down the hall. She heard laughter and the squeals of childish delight issuing from the living room.
Her hand paused on the door handle as she listened. She smiled. Her husband was chasing the little ones in a game of tag.
She entered to the chaotic scene of her three-year old son tumbling over an ottoman. Her five year-old daughter was screaming. Half in mock-terror and half in delight as her father caught her up in his arms. He swung his child in an arc around him as she cried to be spun faster.
He stopped turning the little one and dropped her safely into his lap as he collapsed into his favorite easy chair.
"Good morning darling. Did you sleep well?" He asked cheerfully, quite out of breath from the chase.
"Mommmmmeeeeeeee." The boy cried out excited as he toddled toward her.
She laughed as her son attached himself to her leg like a burr.
She swept him up in her arms and cuddled him to her. "Yes my dear. I slept well, thank-you."
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"What's the matter darling?" He asked, concern in his voice.
"It's just that I had the queerest dream. Only I can't remember it now." Her brow uncreased itself. "Oh well, couldn't have been too important if I can't remember it."
"Come here you." He said teasingly. He cleared his lap for her so he could have his whole family sit around him.
The two kissed as the children poked at each other with pudgy fingers.
Days passed. Or was it months? Perhaps a year. And every day there was this ideal bliss.
One day while lounging late in bed snuggled up to her husband; she asked him a question.
"If you had your choice between living forever with all the riches in the world or staying here with me, which would you choose?"
"You are all the riches I've ever needed." He answered. 'You and the children. If it meant living without you, I would give up forever."
"Give up forever,
give up forever, give up forever, give up forever..." The words rang like an endless echo as she awoke. A glance at the clock proved that a mere hour's time had passed.She cried quiet tears of comfort and joy. Of all the endless possibilities The Dream King could have shown her he had shown her this one.
He could have broken her. He could have left her a more bitter creature than a maiden made of salted tears. But he didn't.
She stared at the clock in wonder. The exact minute she'd awoken was the very time of her birth.
She cried now, more freely. The possibility The Dream King had shared with her had left her with a feeling of regret for what never had the chance to happen. However, she felt loved still and knew the regret would pass in time. What a birthday present The Dream King had blessed her with.
A lone man, tall and dark in his brooding, stood on the rocks of the sea wall. He stood and just lost himself in deep private thoughts.
"A penny for your thoughts."
"What?!" Who?"!" The man whirled around at the strange voice which had come out of no where.
He almost lost his balance and toppled into the water.
The stranger caught his arm and helped the man steady himself.
"Where did you come from, my friend?" The man asked, sounding a bit cross. "And why do you go around scaring innocent people?"
"No harm was meant." The Dream King answered, grinning. He had donned the clothes of a mortal for this interview and the lone man did not know the identity of the one he'd so rudely addressed.
"I should be asking you what draws a man out on a night like this, and possess him to stand upon a sea wall." The Dream King answered. "I was merely passing by when I saw you and grew curious."
"Fair enough." The man said. "I don't really know why I'm out here tonight."
"Oh?" It was not so much a question The Dream King answered with, but more of a statement.
"Well, I do know." The man admitted. "Today is her birthday."
"I see." The Dream King hid a smile to himself.
"Do you?" The man asked sorrowfully.
"Well, I do admit freely that affairs of the heart are more my sister's realm than mine."
The man sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I just keep thinking about the possibilities. All those what ifs? What would my life have been if I had kept her love?"
"Well now, the possibility." The Dream King answered. "Is one thing which does fall in my realm."
He placed his hand over the lone man's eyes.
"Sleep, precious one, and dream of the possibility."
The man collapsed as he fell asleep. The Dream King caught him as he fell and carried him to a bench.
After arranging him so he would be comfortable, The Dram King smiled at his handiwork and vanished.
The End
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