In The Dreaming: Chapter Four: "What If" (Fantasy Y/A Novel)

-I wrote the following novel nearly two decades ago. In the years between then and now I've honed my craft, and my perception of this world; my thoughts and ideas; have changed dramatically. However, I still enjoy the premise and have decided to do an overhaul of revisions and rewrites, though likely not until sometime next year. (Though I'm sure I'll do a little as I post chapters)

For now I hope you will enjoy a glimpse into my book writing beginnings...

They are the closest of friends though they have never met in waking life.

Prologue-PT1 Prologue-PT2 Chapter 1

Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Chapter Four

That night Aliyah fell asleep and woke up in the woods, only to find Dark Eyes practically doing somersaults through the leaves.

“What on earth are you doing?” She said starting to laugh.

“I, my small interesting friend, am celebrating.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense!”

He cast her an amused look. “In suspense? Are you sure you’re not 16 trapped in a little girl’s body?”

“Please, let’s not be condescending.”

“Ha, that’s it! You should insist on going to a special school as well, then perhaps we can meet.”

“Sorry, I was tested for my I.Q. and I scored 140 which may be close, but not quite Mensa material.”

“Close, but not Mensa? You’re nine years old, what nine year old talks like that?”

“An intelligent one, granted, but not as big a brain as you Mr. 160.“ She attempted to do a southern accent, a bad one, but passable “I do decla’, I am in the presence of a bon-i-fied super genius, wow, how did I get lucky enough to know such a smart fella’.”

Collin tossed some wet needles at her with a grin. “Well if I can’t brag to my dream friend, who can I brag to? My friends? Shi…crap, they wouldn’t even know what it meant. My mom? She hears the word genius and suddenly I’m a brain surgeon buying her condos in the Caribbean. But you, I know that you’re happy for me, right?”

“Of course I am! And I’m assuming your celebration means everything is finalized?”

“Yup, I just checked out my dorm room today. I really can’t wait to move in and get started with my new life, this school year is dragging!”

“So once you do get there you’re going to gear up to be superman, save the world and then name me as your muse and inspiration right?”

“Absolutely! That is..” he was about to say “if he could name her,” but became distracted as she ran full tilt into him, shoving him down in the leaves, giving him a great big hug and exaggerated kiss on the forehead.

She sprang up, her cheeks reddening a little, then giggled profusely.

“Whew, I didn’t see that coming! So what’s new with you? You've always been a happier person than me granted, but lately you're bordering on ecstatic.”

“Actually, it’s mostly because of Amy. I told you about her. Anyway, I’m thinking of telling her about you...I don’t suppose you have ever told anyone about me?”

Collin shook his head. “Sorry sister, I can’t imagine what I would say. Actually I have thought about it before, “I have a friend who I dream about almost every night, she’s nine years old…" And yeah, that’s where it stops.”

Aliyah laughed. “I see your point. In my case though, I’m pretty sure Amy would find it magical rather than weird.”

“Go for it then.”

She nodded, his blessing was all she needed to confirm it. “Do you want to walk down the stream?”

“Sounds good.”

They walked slowly through the brush, Aliyah pausing every so often to pluck a violet and twirl it in her fingers. They talked so easily about one thing or another that Aliyah felt he was her best friend, her kindred spirit. She smiled up at him when they stopped to investigate some fish swimming along beside them.

Collin returned the smile, thinking along similar lines- that this little person was closer to him than a diary would be if he’d kept one. Lately he had been plagued with the thought “What if I stop dreaming about her? What if one day she isn’t there, and that day turned into another, then another….” When his thoughts lingered there he felt pained, a loss like death. The worst part was that he would be so alone in it, no one would ever know or understand. He didn’t dare to mention it, he felt sure that her simple faith would not allow a hopeless thought like that one to enter her own mind. But that wasn’t all of it. He somehow felt that it was her faith that would keep them coming back to this place.

They drifted farther downstream, talking all the while until the dream faded, and they each woke to their vasty different lives, a world away.

Continue on to Chapter 5

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