A Short Story: Dreams...

[KashanArigashi]

Alright. As the title states, it has something to do with dreams. Yes, it does. This story is actually based off a dream I had. Of course I added a little to fill in the gaps and provide a couple things for myself, but the original concept was from a dream I had. I wrote this for enjoyment and for sharing with my friends. I certainly hope you like it!

-Preface-
I've been having these strange dreams lately. I don't quite understand them; more often than not I find myself harming my friends. I've tried thinking about more cheerful things before I fall asleep, hoping the thoughts will change my dreams. However, I've not had any luck with that. I had another dream last night as well: I killed this girl--a girl I know I know, but the identity escapes me--that I ended up falling in love with. And to add to the oddity, the dream reversed time to a point 5 hours before she died. However, she knew her time was at hand. These last 5 hours were hopeless though; when the time of her death came, she simply disappeared. Why I have had these murder-love stories for dreams, I doubt I'll ever know. Even so, the most frightening part of these dreams is not the deaths of my dear friends. . . it is that I enjoy it . . .

-Chapter 1-
My name is Seth Evans. I am 16 years old and a sophomore at my town's high school, Clint High, in Colorado. I suppose it could be easy and difficult to stereotype me. In class, I am the quiet, well-behaved guy that always gets his work done. Most of the teachers like me pretty well too. I have an interest in the arts, and I plan on taking drama my next two years of high school to follow up my first two years of art. Good; so far I seem like a good, little, smart kid that never gets in trouble. Albeit true, it is not entirely true. I love to play soccer and basketball. For the former, I play goalie on a local club team. Last year, we made it to California for a soccer tournament and we placed third. As for basketball, I mainly play around with my friends; but being that I stand at 5 feet 11 inches, I might have a chance at the school team. Not quite a jock, but now you know more. Oh--Another thing; I could be considered a Christian, being that I go to a local Baptist church. I believe in God, of course, and I certainly hope I end up in heaven when I die. I know I haven't actually committed any serious sins, like kill somebody. It's just that I don't quite agree with all the things my church teaches. But I don't really share that with anyone, and I certainly don't always act like a Christian. Now what do you stereotype me as?
My daily routine is rather boring, though. During the weekdays, I go to school and finish my homework by 5:00. I eat dinner, watch TV, and sleep until the next day. In class, I simply finish my work and daydream the rest of the time. At this point, I imagine you are getting a little bored reading about me, so I'll tell you my story (Stereotypes are stupid, anyhow) . . .

-Chapter 2-
Today is a Monday, the beginning of a new week after our spring break. I honestly have no idea why the teachers attempt to jump-start back on classwork after a break. Only one person, Jane--you know, the one that every school has: the one that gets EVERYTHING correct and only has a life in school (commonly referred to as the "Nerd")--actually pays attention and really does the work. It's only on Wednesday when the classes actually pick up again.
When lunch comes, I gladly take my time eating. I really don't enjoy the company of those I sit with. I am sure you know the type of friends they are: the ones you speak to in school and have a few laughs, but you never speak to them outside of school and often talk bad about them. Luckily, I eat near the edge of the cafeteria where there are few teachers, so I listened to my iPod to drown out the background noise. Oh, the iPod is a useful device; I can ignore whoever I want under the excuse "I can't hear them," even when I can. But in this silent haven, I saw her. "Her" being the most attractive girl I have ever seen at school. I had never seen her before, but being that she had a somewhat-clueless look on her face, I believe she is new. After observing her actions for a time, I turned away so my "friends" wouldn't think I was looking at something. But I intended to meet her.
The lunch bell rings, and I get up and leave the cafeteria, but there is no sign of her. It's a good thing my classes didn't do anything major, as I would have been unable to concentrate. Oh, but now I can't believe myself. I am spending all my time thinking about a girl I've never spoken to. I don't even believe in love at first sight.
The bell rings, and I walk to my last class of the day and oh! the fates are planning something. Right as I sit down, She walks in. Great, now I have a class with her too; even better for my state of confusion. Oh, by the way, her name is Sarah Lynn. And I thought my previous classes were bad--I am only glad she didn't notice me looking at her most of the class. Of course, the bell rings oh-too-soon. Hey, what harm could saying "hi" to a new student do? Or so I thought. I swear my heart tripled in hear rate before I said anything. Needless to say, I couldn't get a word in before I locked up when trying to go to her.
And now I may be insanely in love with a girl I barely know. This won't end well. . .

-Chapter 3-
I had another dream last night. No one died, but the dream worries me. This girl--whom I forget once more who it was--simply spoke to me all night long. Nothing really odd about her, save that her clothes were woven from the Threads of Fate... Sadly, I cannot recall what she told me.
All my classes were boring today, except my last of course. I have no more classes with Sarah Lynn, sadly. But the time I had was used to prepare myself for speaking to her... and I couldn't do it again. I don't understand why I lock up around her. I never have around any other girl.
What more is there to say about my day? All I can think about nowadays is Sarah Lynn and my dreams. And she hasn't appeared in any as of yet.
A week passed. Not much happened.
Okay I flat-out just lied to you. I spoke to Sarah Lynn on Friday, but sadly only to tell her the homework. I don't understand why she wouldn't know the homework. She seems extremely intelligible. Maybe she's interested in me? But how could she, when she hardly knows me? That sort of thing isn't supposed to happen. On the other hand, she might be toying with me. Possibly someone told her about my thoughts about her and now she is going to have some fun. But then again, maybe she just really forgot the homework. Nobody's perfect, right? That's a perfectly logical story, that just has to be it. Even so, maybe it is that as well as her just wanting to be friends? Oh, I doubt I could be "just friends" with her. I can hope she's interested. I can check based on her behavior. I know what I will do: I'll talk to her on Monday and analyze how she acts.
Oh, but this weekend is practically hell for me. I can't think of anything but Sarah Lynn. And on top of that, I am afraid to sleep, in case the dreams come back again. Thus, I get no sleep all weekend. But I'll be alright.
So I speak to her after school. She seems so nice, I doubt she would toy with my feelings. But wait... how could she know? I've told no one about Sarah Lynn.
Oh, but I must mention that she must be a health hazard for me. The very sound of her voice gets my heart beating. On the bright side, it is the only thing keeping me awake--my lack of sleep is truly affecting me. My grades are slipping in addition to a slowing reaction time. But I've found a medicine that keeps me away and relieves my constant headache. The bottle says take only two a day, but an extra won't hurt much, right?
I think she is somewhat interested in me though. But I don't know how much. She looks for me in the mornings and we speak a lot in class. I really doubt she actually forgot her homework that one time thought; she has the best grades in the class. This made me feel so much better about my chances with her. It's possible she only wants to be friends thought. I guess it is best not to get hopes up, even when I feel so much better in good spirits.
Despite my unmatched love, I am growing more tired by the day, and my headaches are worsening. So I decided to take 4 pills while at school. . . and I blacked out. . .

-Chapter 4-
So my fears were fulfilled. I dreamed again. But it was similar to an earlier dream, except that the girl was Sarah Lynn, and I was the one to slay her. But I guess I can only safely taker 3 pills a day. So i secretly sneak them into the water they give me at the hospital. Killing Sarah Lynn made me wake up in a sweat.
Today is Saturday; I've been in the hospital since Wednesday. But I receive a pleasant surprise: Sarah Lynn dropped by and gave me all my "Get Well" cards, with a special one from herself. Sometimes I wish I could overdose on her. She's become my natural drug, a shot of happiness, and a pill of separation from worry. Sadly, she couldn't stay long today, but she promised she would stop by everyday until I got better. I feel bad for the nurse though. She got quite a scare when my heartbeat raced as Sarah Lynn kissed me on the cheek to tell me goodbye. But it was definitely worth it.
And so the days pass on happily. I learn Sarah Lynn is from Chicago, moving because her dad got a job transfer. She was never able to play any sports because she was so sickly as a child. I told her that I can relate. She laughed. She went on to tell me how she was much worse, being that her body rejected most all drugs. Only a few--and those in small amounts--medicines were possible to take without risk. And she told me more about herself: favorite colors, likes, dislikes, and really a lot of random things that no one would need for a relationship. But everyday ended with her having to go and giving me her personal drug: a kiss on the cheek. At least the nurse is used to it now. But today is Tuesday, which only means two more days until I am out of the hospital. However, that makes no difference to me, so long as I can see Sarah Lynn.

-Chapter 5-
Sarah Lynn came on schedule again. I asked if all this time together meant she was my girlfriend. She smiled and told me only if she would stay such until the end of her life. I told her even after that, something that only two weeks ago would have been something I thought impossible. But now I truly believed in it. Forever.
The nurse at this time was used to Sarah Lynn being there, so she always brought two glasses of water in. Sarah Lynn then left my room to thank the nurse. I figured it a perfect time to take my pills. I had only just now realized how tired I was. Sarah Lynn truly is my wonder-drug. I had only just dissolved the pills, however, when the two came back in. My heart began pumping again--Eh, I can take the water later. I took Sarah Lynn's hand and we spoke some more, with Sarah Lynn occasionally taking a drink of water. We talked, but I began feeling sick, so she handed me a glass of water, keeping hers since she had already drank of it. And then I realized why I was sick--Sarah Lynn had been drinking my drugged water...
Mortified, I abruptly told the nurse to get a doctor. She read my eyes and knew something was wrong. However, Sarah Lynn passed out before the doctor got there. He took her into intensive care and learned what had happened.
About two hours later, the two walked in quietly. The doctor--concerned. Sarah Lynn--afraid. She walked through the room out onto the balcony and stared at the starry night sky. The doctor then shared the terrible news with me: Sarah Lynn had overdosed on my pills. Her body rejected some of it, but absorbed enough of it to be fatal. But since her body is rejecting all treatment, there is nothing that can be done. He told me she will most likely die within the hour.
He then consoled me, and left Sarah Lynn and me to ourselves. I walked out onto the balcony and stood by her.
"Do you love me?" She asked me.
"As long as I am still living," I responded.
"And how long is that?"
"I... don't know..."
She embraced me and began crying. I held her tightly as we fell to our knees. As she cried her woes into me, I simply held--no, caressed--my love and stared into the sky and asked "Why?"
Nothing more was said between us. Our hearts were beating to a precise and exact same rhythm. We needed no words. We knew what the other was thinking. And so we knelt together for a time--It felt as an eternity and yet not long enough--until her crying stopped. Her loving grip loosened and her skin gradually froze. And then, I cried out to the sky...
"Oh, my love's body now in my arms does lay,
My own heart too in my arms now decay. . ."

-Denouement-
Seth Evans died that night from complications arising from stress, lack of sleep, and continued overdosages. However, he did die peacefully, only minutes after Sarah Lynn passed. The two's souls floated on together into heaven. Seth's dreams, a curse to some and yet a blessing still to others, shall be passed down to yet another. Hopefully, the recipient's dreams will prove to be a happier story for me to tell. . . . . .