THE DREAM

“Ah!” Marvel screamed from her sleep, sweating profusely. She looked around her room in fear as she clutched her sheets around her chest tightly. “Not again”, “Not again” she kept murmuring to herself. Her scream must have woken her parents as they came running into her room, wondering what had happened to her again. This is the third night in a row Marvel has had same nightmare at exactly same time. Sitting by her daughter on the bed, Mrs. Jordan drew her closer to herself as she tried to console her.

“What is it this time baby?” Mrs. Jordan asked, “Same dream?” Marvel just nodded her head vigorously, unable to speak as tears rolled down her cheeks. Coming closer to her as he patted her head gently, her father, Mr. Jordan asked her, “did you see its face this time? Can you describe what it looked like?” Still unable to speak, she just shook her head. Turning to her husband, Mrs. Jordan said to him, “my love, do go back to bed okay, I’ll stay here with her tonight and make sure she’s okay”. He smiled and kissed his daughter and wife goodnight as he turned to leave the room.

It's been two days since Marvel had the dream. She has barely spoken with anyone ever since. Sometimes she would just sit in the garden outside the house and stare into space, lost in her thoughts. Worried about their daughter’s state of mind, her parents decided to call her best friend, Miriam, to come over and spend a few days with her and also convince her to see a psychologist, perhaps she would be able to speak up. Later that day, Miriam came to the residence of the Jordans. After exchanging pleasantries with Mr. and Mrs. Jordan in the sitting room, she went out to meet her friend in the garden.

As Miriam walked closer to her friend, Marvel, she saw tears running down her face while she kept murmuring to herself. Miriam instantly stood still and felt cold shivers running down her spine. She could feel the presence of something around them. Or was it “someone”? Miriam has always had what she called her “7th sense”. It’s a gift she was blessed with from childhood. Something that was passed down to her from her mother, who got it from her own mother. Sometimes she could sense the presence of other “beings” around her, at other times she could practically see them. This is a secret no one knew about her, not even her best friend.

As Marvel turned around, she saw her friend standing rooted to the spot. She called her several times before Miriam came around and walked up to her friend and held her in a warm embrace. Immediately, Marvel broke down in tears as she held on to her friend tightly. Miriam just held her close as she gently stroke her hair, letting her pour all her emotions out. After Marvel had calmed down, her friend led her to where they sat down to have a lengthy conversation.

“Mum and dad have been so worried about you, Marv”, Miriam started. “Mum had to call me to come over and spend a few days with you. She said you’ve been having the nightmares again, and you have not spoken to anyone for the past two days. Do you want to share with me?” Staring into space, Miriam took a deep breath before speaking. “It had the face of a man, but the body of a monster at the same time, lurking in the dark. I couldn’t see his face clearly but when he stood, he stood very tall with eyes that shone so bright even in the dark. I always found myself walking along that same path; how I got there or where I was headed, I do not know. But whenever I was on that lonely path, I could sense that something was following me, watching me, from the woods. Or was it “someone?” I just knew I was being followed, watched keenly. Before now, I’d always been on that part in broad daylight, but the last time I had the nightmare, I was on that road at night. I could practically hear the sounds of all the night creatures lurking in the darkness. I was terrified. Then I saw him. I saw him walking out of the trees towards me. He came closer and with each step he took, I could perceive the aura around him, like he commanded so much power over me and just when he drew closer to me, I woke up, sweating profusely and shaking in fear. That path looked very familiar, like I have been there before in reality. Maybe not in this life but in my previous life, that’s if there is anything like incarnation though. Mimi, I know I have been on that very path before, I can feel it deep inside of me. Who is he? What does he want with me?” She said while pacing up and down.

Miriam stood up and went to her and brought her back to her seat as she tried to calm her down, telling her that everything would be okay. “I’m here now okay and no harm will come to you. We will get to the root off this together and find a solution”, Miriam said to her. “Mum and dad feel you need to see a psycho…”. “Don’t even finish that statement, Mimi”, Marvel cut her friend shut. “I am not seeing any shrink. Do they think I’m insane or what?” “No, Marv”, Miriam told her friend. “They are only worried about you and care so much for you. You and I know how much they love you and would do anything to see you happy. But these recent developments have been hard for them to understand and come to terms with, so don’t blame them for thinking of a solution. Okay, fine, no shrink I promise. But you have to also promise to always tell me about any of the experiences you get hereon now. Agreed?” “I promise”, Marvel answered with a smile plastered on her face.

Holding her by the hand, Miriam led her best friend into the house. On getting inside, Marvel went to sit beside her mum and told her she was hungry. Her mother was taken aback as she turned to look at Miriam in disbelief who just smiled mischievously. Mrs. Jordan quickly called out to the maid to set the table and bring food for Marvel. As Marvel walked tot the dining table, Mrs. Jordan drew closer to Miriam and asked her what she did to make Marvel feel better to the point of asking for food. Miriam let out a small laugh and said, “mum, I am Marv’s best friend remember? Even if she doesn’t want to talk to anyone, she will definitely talk to me”.