What Dreams May Come
He could feel the warmth on his face, as if he were laying outside in the yard, the bright afternoon sun beating down on him. The cool gentle breeze slowly started to rouse him from his sleep. He opted to roll over and fall asleep again but the call of his name woke him.
Adam opened his eyes, blinking them quite a few times as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the afternoon sun high in the sky. He sat up and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. He looked up and noticed the woman sitting across from him. He stared, completely amazed, ahead of him.
"Well hello sleepyhead" She said, smiling warmly at him.
He continued to stare as he took in her appearance. She was dressed in a beautiful white airy dress, her long chestnut brown hair was loosely pulled back. He remembered her then, when she spoke. Her voice was as soft as an angel's melody.
Adam shakes his head and looks at his surroundings. The place seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. The two sat in a small boat in the middle of a beautiful lake. He looked down at the water and awed at how clear it seemed. It was almost as if you could see all the way down. It was strange though, the boat never once moved, that he recalled. Even when he had sat up from his sleeping position, but yet the ripples in the water never stopped. They just kept going and going, never once did they slow or stop.
He looked back to the woman across from him. The woman he knew once. But that, that was a long time passed. He opened his mouth to speak, but found he had no words. There were none. Not even he, the master of expression through art, could find the words to say just how much he missed her.
She smiled at him and reached up her hand to his face, lightly touching his cheek in a soft caress. Adam closed his eyes, reveling in the warm, feather soft touch.
"I love you Adam, my boy, my dearest son. I always have and I always will. Please never doubt that." She smiles again "You're work .. it's so beautiful. I am so proud of you, that even though I am no longer there, that you kept on making such amazing pieces of art. It brings me such joy to see them all."
He opens his eyes, they are shining with tears, sadness and love. "Mom ..."
"Shh my boy, it's alright. You don't have to be afraid. There are so many people that love you, and I know they make you happy. I never want you to be afraid to go after what you want and to never be afraid to voice what you do not. You are a smart child, and I know that you'll know what you want." She smiles softly then and reaches up and wipes the tears from his eyes like she used to do when he was little.
He smiles sadly and looks up at his mother, "What I want ... will never be mine." He said quietly. She laughs, and when she does it sounds like an angels chorus.
"Oh my sweet child. You must be patient. All the good things, the best things, in life are worth waiting for. But only if you're willing too."
He smiles, knowing that waiting would be well worth it. Suddenly a question comes to mind, one that has been long waiting for an answer. "Why .. why did you leave" He asks, though he does not look at her now.
She smiles sadly as she replies, "There are things that happen, that are beyond our control. But everything happens for a reason. Even if we've yet to understand it. And sometimes we never will."
He looks up, "Everything?" He asks, a particular event has come to mind. Knowing what her son is thinking she nods "Yes Adam, everything."
Adam nods in understanding, knowing he can now make sense of what had happened that day, so long ago. He looks over as the boat starts to move, they are nearing a dock. He looks back to his mother and she nods.
"It's time for me to go Adam. You need not to be afraid anymore. I will always be here, even though you cannot see nor hear me, I will always be watching. You are never alone my son, by precious boy. Believe and trust in those around you. They care for you, so very much."
The boat comes to a stop, and they both get out. Adam looks to the water, and still it ripples. He wonders for a moment, if they'll ever stop. But he knows the answer. He smiles then, remembering what Joan had said to him once. She wanted him to have good ripples.
He looks back to his mother as she stands there watching him with a serene smile upon her face. She opens her arms to him and he accepts. They hold each other for what seems like an eternity before she lets go.
"I love you Adam, my son. No matter what lies ahead, always be strong." She says as she kisses his forehead. He nods, tears in his eyes as he hugs her once more.
"I love you too mom."
"Goodbye Adam"
"Goodbye ... mom"
It was sometime around noon when Adam heard a knock at the shed's door before it opened. He looked up briefly and smiled when he saw whom it was.
"Hey Adam"
"Hey Jane"
Joan walked over to where he sat, busily working on what she assumed was his latest piece of artwork. She sat down on the stool opposite the side of where he worked and she watched him. She was always amazed by the things he could create out of simple metal pieces, foil or tin cans. It was definitely a talent. And it was one of the things she loved most about Adam. His art was always so full of emotion. Sometimes she didn't always "get" what it was about, but she could feel it and it was always beautiful to her.
Adam looked up at her as he twisted the last piece of metal in place. He took off his work gloves and tossed them to the side as he reached up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Joan smiled at him, and he smiled back.
"New piece?" She asked, interested in what it was.
"Cha, I made it this morning." He said as he turned the small sculpture around for her to see.
Joan looked at it long and hard. She knew what it was the moment he turned it. But the beauty of it amazed her. It was like nothing she'd seen him make before.
"It's an angel ..." She said quietly, afraid if she spoke too loud it would break.
"Yeah" Adam said as he smiled proudly. He loved to show Joan his work. He knew she appreciated it for what it was rather than what it looked like, though she always told him they looked beautiful or amazing. At times he was skeptical, but the sincerity in her voice told him she meant it.
Joan looked up at him as she gently touched one of the wire wings "Does it have a name?" She asked curiously.
He looked at it for a moment before speaking, as if he never really had to think about it at all. "Elizabeth."
Joan smiled and nodded, feeling the familiar burn of behind her eyes. "It's a beautiful name."
Adam nodded as well, then he took the piece and put it up on a shelf that held all the other sculptures he once made for his mother, this one though, taking the forefront. He looked at it a moment longer, sighing contentedly at his hard work.
Looking over at Joan, he smiled, knowing she understood the meaning of it. He grabbed his hoodie off the other side of the work bench and pulled it over his head, pushing back the hood itself.
"Ready Jane?" He asked, holding out his arm to her.
"Always" She replied with a smile as she hooked her arm in his.
With a parting glance back at his sculpture they both left the shed and walked out into the street. The day was cool and breezy, giving way to the coming of summer days and seemingly endless nights. As they walked to their destination they passed a lake. It reminded Adam of the dream he had the night before and he smiled briefly before catching a glimpse at Joan, who was commenting on the ducks in the lake as they swam too and fro.
He knew, as he watched her, that his mother was right. The best things, the great things, are definitely worth waiting for. And he wanted to, and he knew he would. He would wait for his Jane to be ready, no matter how long it took.
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End
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