Bedroom Sanctuary

My brother is found waiting front and center in his Boulder Gray Nissan Rogue. My Mother and I work our way to the back seat as my father merrily climbs into the passenger side.

"Hey boss!" My dad is the first to greet him.

"Hey dad." My brother responds in a monotone pitch.

My mother lays her hand on his shoulder as my brother squeezes it in acknowledgement. He then turns to me. 

"Hey sis."

"Hey Junebug." I respond. 

He begins to drive and my parents begin to ask him about work and his life. They engage in small talk as I stare out the window, lost in thought. I think of the bird that visited before we checked out. Then I begin to think about what will happen once I get back home. My parents begin to open the breakfast bag and feast. My brother plugs his phone into the amp and proceeds to play family friendly music. The rest of the ride is smooth. We make it home swiftly.

Upon pulling into the parking light, the house looks unfamiliar with all the lights on. I step out the car as my parents proceed to get the bags. 

"Here, let me help." I try to chip in, but they encourage me to go inside and get settled in. I father behind my brother as he unlocks the door. The space suddenly feels stranger to me. I do my best to get reacquainted with it. My brother observes and quickly notices my reservations. He studies for a moment as we stand in silence.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me." He says as he begins feeling around his pockets for something he struggles to find. He raises his pointer finger for a moment, as if he suddenly remembered its hiding place as he proceeds to walk off. I go and take a seat on the living room couch when my brother quickly returns. He's holding up a necklace with a large gray emblem tied to black coated wire. He holds it up, almost like a pendulum. 

I thought you might like this. There is a large tree in the middle that stretches throughout the outskirts of the pendulum, from the roots to the branches. I observe the necklace in admiration. He comes over and proceeds to put it around my neck. I lift it from my chest in attempt to further examine it.

"Like it?" He asks as he takes a step back to see if it truly suits me. I study it a bit more before responding. 

"I love it." I stand to give him a hug as my parents walk into the living room.

"Awweee!" My mother exclaims. "Now this is what I like to see." As she works her way upstairs and attempts to put the bags down.

"Looks good on you mama." My dad adds before following after my mother. My brother proceeds to close the front door as we further settle in. 

My mother continues to speak from upstairs. "Do whatever you need hun. I know you're dying to go to your room and have some quiet time, finally." I glance over to my brother as if to ask for permission.

"Go ahead." He encourages. I glance at the necklace and hug him once more before running up the stairs and off into my room. Upon closing the door, I am relieved. It feels nice to have privacy for the first time in months. Everything is just how I left it. Down to my song journal sitting on my bed, my bedsheets slightly disheveled, and my blinds still open. I attempt to clean up and make my bed. Gazing at the view I've grown to fall in love with over the years. As I sit on my bed, I revisit my song book. Noticing the song I started working on but never got to finish. 

"The wind goes north, south, and east

The west leads us to the promise land

And the breeze?

To the Mountain where he's standing

I believe he's not of the same planet."

I see a flash of the old man reciting my poem in the garden and begin to hold the book closely to my chest. A comfortable silence fills the room as I proceed to turn the TV on and put on some lo-fi background music. I attempt to continue to write, but there is strain. It feels as if I'm somehow blocked. I lay my head back in surrender, as I attempt to take in the scenery. The setting is so relaxing, I quickly fall asleep. As I drift off, I can still hear the lofi playing in the background. Soon, I am completely immersed in the dream.

This time, I'm sitting in the middle of a bunch of young adults in a Robe de Cour. I am reading from a book as they sit around me and listen intently. 

"Thus it happened, that the education of the father, daughter, and granddaughter, has devolved on me. What infinite misery have the two first caused me! Should the fate of the dear survivor be equally adverse, how wretched will be the end of my cares- the end of my days!" I'm seen closing the book on page 6 of a book titled "Evelina." The young people begin to pack up their belongings and disperse upon shutting the book closed. I took the book under my arm as I make my way out into the open. I walk for a moment before I'm met with a man, who greets me with a warm smile. He comes forward to embrace me before stealing a kiss. I look up at him affectionately.

"I have something to tell you." I utter as he listens with patience.

I proceed to rub my stomach as he immediately catches on. The man gasps for going in for an even warmer embrace. The dream is short lived, I am awakened by a loud knock on the door.

"Diana?" I hear what sounds like my mother. She continues to knock until I open the door. 

"Oh, were you sleeping hun? I just wanted to ask what you wanted for dinner." I look over to the tv. Screen and notice the clock reads 6pm. The nap wasn't so much of a nap aftercall.  I wipe my eyes feeling a bit dazed and confused.

"I'm not used to this new timeline." I whisper in a groggy voice.

My mother chuckles. "We were thinking take out? Vegetable Lo Mein and Orange Chicken?"

"Sure mom, it sounds yummy." 

My mom proceeds to rub my cheek before politely stepping away. I close the door slowly before crawling back into bed. As I crawl into bed, Raphael appears before me. 

"Feeling better now, aren't we?" The angel smiles.

I sit up properly in attempt to show respect before nodding my head in agreeance.

"Very good Diana, I'm glad to see you back to yourself."

"It's never been so good to be back home."

He smiles as I think back to the dream I just had.

"It seems you're getting more used to our presence? You seem far less startled when we pay our visits."

I nod again. "I have seen weirder things." I tease, as the angel smiles. Suddenly, I think to ask a question.

"Umm, angel Raphael. Is there any possibilities that our dreams could tell us things? Things that could be almost like, I don't know, clues?"

He seems curious by the question and arches an eyebrow in response before inching closer to me. I am alarmed. I haven't been so close to Raphael since the time I was last in my room. 

He floats before me in momentary silence before he places his hand along my forehead. I notice him close his eyes before whispering "show me." Suddenly, I am brought back in time. Rewinding through the dream from finish to start. Ending with me sitting amongst the young adults, holding the book. I gasp as Raphael releases his hold. He looks at me speculatively.

"I see." He is brief before returning to his original position at the opposite end to you.

"What does that dream mean to you Diana?"

I continue to think back to the man I saw, and how comfortable I felt in his embrace. Too embarrassed to share my true thoughts, I cop out and choose an easier response.

"I-I don't know. I was actually hoping you'd tell me?"

Before he can respond, I notice my phone ringing. It's Damon. I proceed to pick up the call, almost forgetting the angel is floating before me.

"Hello?" I answer with excitement. As I glance up, I notice Raphael has disappeared. 

"Hey Diana! How's home life treating you."

I glance at the space Raphael once filled for a moment longer before completely emerging myself in the phone call. I reposition myself as I think of an honest response. 

"It's exactly as I remember it." 

"No kidding. Is that good or bad?"

I look around for a moment. 

"It's a mess. But it's my mess. Wouldn't have it any other way. How are you?"

"Haha, I'm fine! I remember I owe you a story!"

"Perfect timing."

"Why does it seem like I'm always saving the day? I always had suspicions I might secretly be superman."

"Shut up!" I tease. 

There's a comfortable silence between us before Damon proceeds. 

"So, the tale of how the dragon turned into a prince."

"Does it have to sound so cliché?"

"Hey, it's MY story after all!"

We laugh in unison. We seem to understand each other's sense of humor with ease. He continues.

"So as I was saying." He clears his throat to make sure I'm truly listening. 

"A few years ago, I wasn't the guy you're talking to on the end of the line. I was a lot more impulsive. Careless even. And I never took life all that seriously. I kept things on a need to know basis. My days consisted of spending excessive time with my brothers."

"Did something happen?"

"Mhmm." He responds with dignity. 

"I lost my mother." The line grows silent as I attempt to find the words to comfort him. He sits in the silence with me before continuing. 

"Yeah, I kind of expected that response." He chuckles half heartedly.

"Damon, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what you've been through."

"Hey, it's not like you're the one who took her away from me." He sounds cheerful and optimistic. But being unable to see his expression causes me to feel that it might be a front. He continues to speak.

"So, ever since then, I've made it my mission to be the person she knew me to be. Someone capable of great depth and authenticity. It's the least I can do." I can hear him smiling through the phone. My heart begins to sink, though I feel rather connected to him in this moment.

"Thanks for sharing that. Most people don't open up so soon."

"Well, I feel comfortable around you for some reason. And you seem like the type of girl that demands honesty."

I tuck my hair behind my ear guilty. 

"Don't tell me you're psychic too." I try to lighten the mood.

"Well, about that." I suddenly become more invested as I wait for him to clarify.

"I do get these very strange dreams since losing my mother."

Suddenly, I throw my legs off the side of the bed and plant my feet to the ground as I grip the phone a bit closer to my ear and inquire further. 

"Wait, so you get vivid dreams too?"

"Ah, so I'm guessing you're also a part of the club?"

"I mean, tell me more about these dreams. What are they like for you?"

"Seems like I've managed to tickle your fancy."

I roll my eyes as I wait for him to explain. 

"Well, sometimes I will see this creatures that will tell me things. Things that actually pertain to my life. Sometimes, they will tell me things before they even happen."

I am shocked. Unsure how to respond. Damon catches on.

"You okay over there?"

"Uh, yeah. I-I just thought I may have been the only one to go through that."

"No way. You're not as alone as you think girl!" I smile, feeling more eager to get to know Damon than before.

"Which reminds me. Are we ever gonna meet up, or is this just can be some sort of computer love sort of dynamic?"

I laugh as I think carefully of a response.

"Once my parents stop freaking out every time I take a couple of steps, would should be in the clear to meet up."

"Keep me posted on that progress then."

"Yeah." I chuckle.

"I mean it Diana. I'm rooting for you girl!" 

The conversation seems to have run its course. I figure I might as well conclude it.

"Only if you keep me updated on your dreams."

"It's a deal then."

"Diana!" I hear my mom call from downstairs. "Dinner is here!"

"I-" Before I can even complete the sentence, he finishes it for me. 

"Gotta go?"

"Haha, yes."

"Enjoy dinner. Talk soon?"

"Talk soon Damon. And hey, I really enjoyed talking to you today." 

I can hear him smile through the phone before he hangs up. I hold the phone close to my chest, going over the conversation once more before heading down stairs to join my family for dinner.