Later on, I'm sitting in the rocking chair on the porch, watching the view. I'm really bored but really content at the same time. Ally is still sitting in the same position she was an hour ago, curled up in a ball with her head on her knees. I think she's sleeping.
I get a text and my whole pocket vibrates.
BZZZ. BZZZ.
I look to see it's from Dez.
Hey, it says. The checked out my leg and said I'll need a cast for about a month. After that I'll need physiotherapy to help me with the stiffness. Then I'll be as good as new.
I text back. Good, I say. Are you going home or should we come see you?
I'm on my way back to Ally's. U still there?
Yeah.
Good. See you soon.
I put my phone away and go to find Trish. She's asleep, too. Jeez, everyone's so tired. I go back outside and sit very gently next to Ally so not to disturb her. The swing rocks a little more and I worry she might fall but she doesn't. I close my eyes and sleep.
ALLY'S POINT OF VIEW
In my dream, everything is serene. But my dreams keep shifting and morphing to different things, revolving around one key aspect: Austin.
The last image my dream morphs is the park from before. Austin is still playing guitar, singing, laughing, Trish and Dez are still being foolish. I'm still at the edge of the cliff. It seems taller. The bottom is dark and disturbing.
I defy my fears and once I make the movement to go to the others, everything changes. I feel happier. But my happiness doesn't stop the cliff from crumbling beneath me again. I start to fall.
I scream.
I shout.
I call for Austin.
As I'm forced to let go of the cliff, I start to fall. But suddenly Austin is there, holding my hand to pull me up. I feel relaxed at the sight of him. But the cliff keeps crumbling and he falls, too. I fall, he falls, we fall in to the pit of darkness at the bottom.
I wake up to Austin yelling and me flailing. I fly off the porch swing and on to the ground. Ouch. I look up to see Austin grabbing his hair and freaking out, too. I guess he was also having a bad dream. I try to wake him and his eyes open with a jolt. He immediately grabs me and pulls me in to a bear hug. It takes my breath away and he's squeezing so hard. I don't think he's really awake, yet, but I try to pull away anyway.
It takes a few moments but I manage and he's sitting there, staring at the wall with closed fists. I gently sit beside him.
"You okay," I asked, concerned.
He looks at me, still disoriented, and says, "no. I had an awful dream."
"Me, too," I reply. "What was yours about?"
"You were on a cliff," he starts. "You fell. I tried to grab you and pull you up, but I fell, too, and I couldn't save you." His voice is shaky.
He dreamt my dream.
