I Hear the Voices
Dean remembers his first day of school.
He remembers the smile Dad had on his face that morning in the motel, like he was proud. Dean remembers how he didn't want to leave Sammy and Dad alone all day, and Dad saying, "It's okay, Dean, we'll be fine." Dean remembers checking the cupboards in the kitchenette to make sure they had enough cans of SpaghettiOs for lunch.
He remembers Dad putting a notebook and some crayons into his backpack—it was red—and helping Dean pull it onto his shoulders. He remembers the drive with Sammy beside him in the back seat, fussing a little because he knew something was different today. He remembers stopping at the school gates, getting out of the car as Dad said, "Carry on, my wayward son." He remembers turning back to wave, but the car was already gone.
Dean opens his eyes, blinks a few times. Trees and lamp posts rush by in a blur.
"Once I rose above the noise and confusion..."
He glances over at the driver's seat. Sam reaches over with one hand to turn the radio off, looks mildly apologetic.
"A glimpse beyond this illusion—"
Dean doesn't really remember.
THE END
Author's Note: There is only one thing I can think of when I read that word. I end up bursting into song. Go on, admit it, we all do...