Short story- Just a dream

Just a Dream

It was November of 2006. She woke up to the bright glimmers of the snow slowly seeping through her window. Friday, she thought to herself. It’s Friday. Something was tugging at her. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Lila Rose was beautiful.She had a few freckles and a birthmark on her face. She was simple, yet she was rational. It was a Friday in November 2006. And there was something in the way of her rationality. Coffee was brewing downstairs. She didn’t like it much but she knew it meant her mom was awake and there was a possibility of breakfast. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes persistently trying to wipe away the foggy feeling and yesterday’s makeup. Her pajama pants dangled around her ankles as she walked down the stairs. “Good morning, Sweetheart.” Her mom’s voice, sounding different and off. She thought, maybe more high pitched? She couldn’t put her finger on it. She finished her last bite of eggs and remembered she had plans to get lunch with Hannah. It was 11. Lunch was in two hours.

She felt, for some reason, that Hannah had cancelled or was unable to get lunch so she went to her phone to double check. She had a message confirming the time and place that they were to eat. “Something wrong?” Her mom’s voice from the distance. “No,” she answered, “everything’s fine.” Why do I feel like it shouldn’t be fine? She couldn’t put her finger on it. She skipped up the stairs, trying to create a distance between her and that foggy feeling. She threw a pair of jeans over her hips and threw on one of her dad’s old t-shirts. She threw her hair up in a messy ponytail and laced up her converse. She looked at herself through her square glasses and wished that she wasn’t so simple. Lila pulled up to the restaurant and clicked the locks of her old car shut. She saw Hannah through the glass window, sitting at the booth sipping on a glass of lemonade. Hanna was that overwhelming beautiful that every young girl wanted to be. Her dirty beach blond hair down to her stomach. Her skin was soft, smooth, and always tan. Her eyes were a light blue, some days they looked green, and her smile could brighten just about anybody’s day.

When Lila walked in Hannah stood up to embrace her. Hannah’s arms didn’t feel as tight and that tugging feeling came back. Why does this make me sad? She couldn’t put her finger on it. They sat down for lunch and went over the menu. Hannah ordered a burger, Lila a salad. Hannah could eat whatever she wanted and not put on a pound. They laughed over their meals, and caught up on everything they felt like they’d missed. It was Friday, and they’d seen each other just two days ago the day before Thanksgiving. But Lila felt like it’d been forever. All of the talking continued and Lila had taken but two bites of her salad. She didn’t feel hungry anymore even though she hadn’t eaten. Something inside of her told her it was more important to keep the conversation going. They got up to leave after Lila had finally finished her salad. They had both decided to take a drive up the mountain to the lookout over the town. The day was calm. There was almost no breeze and it was 60 degrees out. It was a typical day in Boulder around Thanksgiving. The sun was warm on Lila’s face. She looked up to the sky. She felt a draw from the sunlight, as if to try to tell her something. She listened, but all she could hear were birds and the trees nearby. She felt peaceful, and in that moment she felt as if something that she’d been wanting had finally been given to her. She felt happy. I want to be here forever. She couldn’t put her finger on it. She heard the tires of Hannah’s car in the gravel pulling up behind her. She turned around to see her waving excitedly as she pulled her car up next to her. Hanna bounced out of her car and skipped over to where Lila was waiting.

Lila thought about how there were so many people in her life that she felt like if she spent too much time around she might start to get sick of them. Hannah was not one of those people. She felt as if she could be around Hannah’s company for an endless amount of time and not get tired of her personality. She felt this way especially today. She wanted to soak up every second she could of her. Lila felt lucky today, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. They looked over the town and talked about what an amazing thing it was that they got to live in paradise. They were happy. Nothing in that moment could change that. They checked the clock and it had been almost three hours that they’d been up on the rocks looking over the town, talking, and letting everything soak in. They grabbed their things and hopped back in their cars. Lila needed to be home for dinner, and Hanna did as well. As they were saying goodbye, Lila felt a sharp pang in her gut. I shouldn’t go. I don’t want to say goodbye. She didn’t want to go. “Have a good day, Lila.” Hanna said. “I had a good time today. I always do. Buckle up and drive safe, please.” She felt like she shouldn’t go. She just couldn’t put her finger on it.

Lila was in the car on her way home and she felt like everything was slowing down. She felt like all of her thoughts were pushed together and she didn’t know what was going on. She wished so much that she could rewind the day. Why? It was Friday. It was November. She didn’t need to rewind the day and she didn’t know why she felt like she had to. Lila pulled up to her house and sat in her car. She felt like she needed to think to herself before she went back inside into the chaotic houseful of her three sisters and her parents. She felt composed and got out of the car and walked down the stone stairway to her front door. Suddenly she had blinked and she was inside. She didn’t remember reaching out to open the front door or stepping inside. What is happening? She felt like she had skipped time and that she couldn’t get a to reality. Friday. She heard her mom and her sisters around her, trying to hurry her to the dinner table. She waved them off as she made her way towards the stairs. She put her leg out to walk up the first step, but all of the sudden she felt like she was floating, almost flying up the stairs. She felt like she was losing complete control of herself. Her brain was telling her to slow down, and put one foot down in front of the other. Walk, Lila. One foot in front of the other. She thought to herself. A feeling of panic washed over her as she realized that she was unable to control anything at all. She heard her mom, no, her sisters, no, she couldn’t tell. They were calling her name from downstairs. They sounded far away. They were getting closer now. She felt herself losing more and more control over her body, but she heard the voices getting closer. Something wasn’t right. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Lila, wake up, Sweetheart.” Her mom’s figure was blurry standing above her. “It’s Friday, Lila.” It was November 2006, it was Friday, and she could finally put her finger on it. “I laid out your dress for you, Honey. We have to leave soon. I love you.” Her mom’s voice was sad, but it was clear now. There was nothing in the way of her. Lila put on her dress and laced up her sandals. She looked at herself through her glasses. She felt a tear running down her cheek and wiped it quickly so she could pretend it wasn’t there. She got in her car and sat down next to her sisters. She could feel everyone looking at her. It was November 2006. It was Friday. And she was on her way to Hannah’s funeral.