Samantha McPherson's nightmare suddenly faded and was replaced by the most amazing dream. She found herself walking along a beach with her father. It was a warm, sunny day…the sand was blindingly white and the water was the most amazing blue. Though his lips weren't moving, and there was nothing audible, she became vaguely aware that he was talking to her. She wouldn't be able to repeat a word of what he was saying if asked, but somehow she sensed what he was trying to tell her.
She was saddened as she sensed that he needed to leave her, but she didn't stay that way for long. An overwhelming feeling of peace and serenity washed over her and somehow she knew that everything would be okay. It's what he wanted her to know. He moved in to kiss her, but instead of his lips she felt a cool breeze caress her cheek and her long auburn tresses. He disappeared into thin air, and then just like that, she woke up.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she found herself alone in her drab room at the McQueen house instead of on a beautiful beach with her father. She could still feel the tingle of the breeze that had caressed her cheek in her dream. She glanced toward the window wondering if it was open…that breeze had felt so real. It was closed and so was the bedroom door. There was no way that breeze was real, unless her dad…no, no way.
She still felt that overwhelming sense of peace. Remembering how upset she had been earlier, she didn't know how it was possible to feel so calm now. She knew that everything would be okay…somehow it would all work out. Her mom, her dad, and herself…three shards of broken glass that could never be put back together again. She didn't know how, or when…but she knew that their sharp edges would dull over time, and trying to hold onto each other wouldn't hurt so much one day.
It went against all her practical sensibilities, but she believed that her dad had somehow managed to help her. Her senses were overwhelmed with his presence even though there were no tangible signs. He had been there…she knew it; nobody would ever be able to convince her otherwise. It didn't freak her out…she was actually comforted by it, and it made her smile. She yawned as sleep beckoned to her again…she knew there wouldn't be any nightmares this time, just blissful sleep. As she closed her eyes and drifted slowly into that space between wakefulness and slumber, she softly uttered five little words that she hoped would reach his ears…
"Thanks daddy, I love you."
Fin
