Dreamcatcher

- Katie!!! Wake up sleepy head! You will be late for school again !!! - mother tried to remove the blanket, but Kat was holding it tight over her head.
She didn't want to get up to the cold room. She was still deep in her dream.

- Hold on Sandy, - Kat threw the towel over the board.
- Thank you! - Sandy yelled back to Kat and caught the other side of the towel,  then she kissed a dolphin  for the last time  - Good-bye my friend.
Kat pulled Sandy up and helped her to get to the boat.
- Hurray!!! We are saved now! - Sandy exclaimed and hugged Kat , - Katie, you are my best friend!!!

- You are mine too, Sandy!  - Kat hugged Sandy, -  I have to go , my mom is calling. See you at school! - said Kat and disappeared from Sandy's dream.

- Mom... please, just few more minutes, can you leave me alone!!!
Kat finally let go the blanket while her mother pulled it onto herself and almost fell on the floor.

- You are impossible girl!  - mother was screaming, - Get up now Katie, otherwise you will sleep all day!

Kat opened her eyes, got up and slowly stepped on the floor. She didn't want to wake up, but finally brushed her teeth and started dressing up for school.

   As much as she remembers herself, she always loved sleeping. In her dreams she was a super-heroine or a wonder-girl, or a princess. She was flying into her friend's dreams, helped them to dreamscape from the worst nightmares , jumped into outworld and explored new adventures. Kat couldn't imagine herself not sleeping and live without fairies and witches, dragons and firebirds.

    Usually, people forget about their dreams as soon as they woke up, that's why Kat had never discussed it with nobody.
Actually, she was too shy to talk about anything to anyone at school or to her mother, to her girlfriends in college or at work.

 Now Kat is all grown up, well... at least she thinks that she is, because she is working at the big financial company and it requires her to look like an adult , she smirked, yes - a young professional.
"It's time to forget about fairytales and stop walking on the clouds..." - those thoughts were hunted her for a long time and Kat finally gave up. She prohibited herself even to think about the world of fairies or  to enter anyone else's dreams.
"What the point to be there anyway if no one else remembered it beside me?!" - she was trying to convince herself.
It becomes boring and monotonous and Kat learned how to sleep without dreaming , she found the way to hide ... until she met James at work.

She couldn't remember when she started seeing him in her dreams, every night James appeared next to her.
- Are you my angel? - Kat asked him.
- No, silly girl, - he smiled, - sleep tight little birdie and don't worry about that traffic lights, hold my hand and let's walk together! - James embraced her and was holding in his arms until she fell asleep.
"How did he know that I am afraid to cross the roads?!", - she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but woke up instead, when she felt his warmth. "Was it really a dream?" - she thought and realized that she was sleeping alone in her apartment.
Whole day Kat was thinking about James, but she didn't have courage to ask him about the dream. Everyday she couldn't wait for the night time to begin to see what will happen next.
She couldn't stop dreaming about him either...

- Hi little birdie, why are you crying?  - James asked Kat.

- I am not crying , I was going to run toward you, but the sun blinded me. My eyes are itching that's all, - she was rubbing her eyes and smiled at him.

- Let me see, - James came closer, pulled Kat's hands to see her face. He kissed her eyes so gentle, that Katie started blushing and closed her eyes in the shy.

- Katie, my sunshine, look what I brought for you! - he took her hand and placed a ladybug on her palm.
A red small creature with the black dots was laying motionless for a moment,  then opened her tiny wings and flew away.

- Fly home, Miss Ladybug, your little children are waiting for you! - said Kat quietly , - Thank you James, it was so nice of you. How did you find me here?

- I saw you walking on the clouds and I thought it would be fun to have a ride together on one of them. This one looks exactly like an elephant, right?! - he pointed to a cloud on the sky and smiled at her, sticking out his tongue to the side and squinting his eyes with tease. 
- James,  you are such a teaser and you are not kidding, aren't you! - Kat laughed, - Hey, why not! Yes, let's go riding the clouds, it will be fun for sure! - she exclaimed with excitement.

James hugged her and picked her up in his arms. They flew up to the elephant-cloud, lying on their stomachs and looked down on the streets, where all people were small like the ants.

The wind started moving the clouds faster.
- Where are we going? - she asked with a happy smile.
James hold her tight and whispered in Kat's ear,
- Stop thinking about your past. We are going toward the sun to see yours tomorrow!!! - he said and kissed her again.

In her dreams James looked exactly the same as he was in real life, but something was different, she couldn't understand what.
- Finally it's Friday! I was looking forward for this , so happy that I don't have to work this weekend. How about you?

James shook his head,
- No, I don't either. Lunch? - he asked.

Kat agreed, she was happy for those few minutes to spend with him together outside of the office.
It was a nice day, sunny and no humidity. They went to the closest shop to get a sandwich and salad for lunch.

- I think,  it is a perfect day to be outdoors, hiking or relaxing by the lake. Do you like swimming? - Kat asked with interest.
She felt that she wanted to know everything about James - what he likes to do on weekends or how he spends his evenings when she cannot see him.

- Yes, I can swim. It is too hot for hiking, it's better to go in October,- James answered.

- I like swimming too, - she said.
Kat wanted to add  "...and I can fly too" , but she didn't say it.

James probably wouldn't even remember the last dream anyway, but she was curious what if he does.
"You are a stupid girl , - Kat thought, - no he cannot know about the dreams and don't even try to bother him with your fantasies. It is not possible in this life!" - She screamed at herself inside her mind.

- Do you believe in miracles? - Kat asked James instead.

- No, I believe in logical reasoning and practical explanations. There is no magic in this world, only sequence of events which relate to each other, - he answered with no emotions on his face.

- Hey, James! - Kat smiled, - Can you show me your right hand? - she said playfully. She wanted to touch him, that feeling was so overwhelming, that she couldn't resist.

- Katie, Please! - exclaimed James, but he obeyed and gave her his hand.

- Everyone who can connect lines in their palm have a magical power and high sense of intuition. Look, yours are connected to a letter M, which stands for a Magic! - she took his palm , touched it with a tenderness of her fingertips, draw a letter M and placed small brown bag on it.

- You can't give me a present, it's against the company law! - he pushed the small brown bag to her side and turned his face away, pretending that he is looking at the fountain in the middle of the playground. - Take it away! What do you want? Why do you even need me?!!! - he asked in disbelief.

- It is not a present, just a small souvenir like a keychain or a magnet, - she pulled out a present from a bag, - Look! It is a dreamcatcher, - Kat was holding it by the strings and started shaking it slowly.
  The white feathers on the top of the rounded net were swinging from the right to the left and little sequins on the strings were shining under the sun rays.

 - No James,  I don't need you, I belong to you, - she said softly.

- It doesn't feel right and you make me so uncomfortable. That has to stop! - he said, raising his voice.

- Sure I will stop, absolutely - she answered quickly.

- There is nothing to like about me, I am no one, - he said and looked directly in her eyes.

- Who said "I like you", I don't!  I dislike you, because you are always far away and I can't hold or hug you. I want to kill you (hypothetically), - she gave him a little smile, - yes I want to kill you, but it stopped when you smile back and I see your eyes with few wrinkles in their corners. They looked almost clownish and warm. I want to touch them with my lips. You have no idea what I want to do to you. I don't know yet either, but it is part of my dream. 

- You are making this up, - he said coldly.

- No, I am just enjoying my little fantasy. I've seen it in my dream. Do you see dreams when you are sleeping ? - she didn't wait for his answer, - Tell me any three wishes, which can make you happy... - she puts her chin on her arms on the table and look at him like a child, who is ready to listen to a fairytale.

- I am too old for dreaming, no I don't believe in dreams and I have no expectations. I am living my life one day at a time and trying to enjoy it as much as I can. How about you? - James asked her now with a sparkle in his eyes, or maybe she just imagined that...

- I still have my dreams but those ones that probably will never come true if they didn't happen yet. But I do have few wishes,  they make me feel happy when I am thinking about them. You know, if you give up on your dreams, they will vanish as they've never existed. Maybe I am too stubborn, I just don't want them to disappear. I need a magic! - she looked like a little girl who didn't get a doll that she always wanted for her birthday.

-   I think, you're looking for obstacles rather for a magic.
Sometimes I don't believe everything you said , because I did see it in my dreams too, - James answered and turned his eyes away with embarrassment. - But my dream is always ended as a nightmare.

-  But I was there...  in your dream, - Kat didn't know how to say it , because it wasn't only his dream.

- No, that's impossible!!! Are you a witch or a fairy ?! Please, don't give me those stupid fantasies. I was married once and I know all tricks. I don't believe to any women anymore.

- Why did you say that your dream was a nightmare? - Kat asked with a caution to hear something horrible.

James hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath and said,
- Because at the end I can't save her, she always disappears.

- But it is just a dream, if you truly love her, she will be with you forever.

-  Forever .... ha-ha , you are living in your Dreams World!!! One day we will talk how to separate your fantasies from reality.

- One day... why it always feels like "never". Anyway, I am going away for a week, - Kat turned her face away from James, so he could not see that she almost started to cry. “Why he is always so cold in real life, but warm and kind in her dreams?” Kat was thinking and hold her self from crying.

- Good for you! Don't check your emails and I hope you will not miss the office work. Have some rest because you look tired, - James said with kindness in his voice.

- Yes, I guess... I will forget that place, ( but I will miss you ...) - she pretends smiling and didn't pronounced the last three words.

Kat took the brown bag with a dreamcatcher from the table, waved to James goodbye and left toward the train station, - I am taking half a day today. Good-bye!
She couldn't stop thinking about him, but she forced herself do not look back.

Kat hanged a dreamcatcher on the wall by her bedside, let it catch her last dream.
This time she wasn't sure if she wanted to see it and tried to stay awake as long as she could.

Full moon was so beautiful and bright. It shined through the window and covered Kat's bed with golden lights.
"Katie!!!" - she heard James was calling her. Kat looked up and saw him laying on the cloud.
- Catch!!! - he threw a snowball. She didn't catch it and he laughed at her.
Kat felt  very happy to see him in her dream again.
- Let's make a snowman right on the cloud ! - she exclaimed, -   Nobody can do it beside us!

James hugged her and pulled closer to him. He started kissing her lips, eyes,  cheeks, color bones, - I want to kiss your heart, - he said with love in his voice.
 Kat smiled, - Hey look! it's snowing down there!-  she sits on the edge of the cloud and looked down.

Suddenly, they saw a little girl on the street, who was selling the matches.
- Do you know that girl with matchsticks? - James asked her.

- Yes, I remember her, if she will not sell the matches, her father will beat her. She will lights them to keep herself warm and she will see her grandma, who will take her up in Heaven.

James couldn't answer, he took a deep breath.
- Wow! Did you see a shooting star?! - Kat asked him. - That was a child who fall from the other planet. Everyone called him a Star-Boy. One day his mother found him here on Earth, but when he saw her torn clothes, he said that his mom should be a queen not a beggar.

James couldn't say a word to that.
- Do you know these boys, Katie ? - there were two boys running after little bird and called her "Mother", - and did you see a girl with a bread?! - James pointed to her.

- Yes, I remember now! - Kat whispered back to James, - Those boys were always playing and couldn’t give water to their very ill mother , when boys' mother turned into a bird , she flew away and they were running after her to ask for forgiveness but it was too late.
And that girl didn't want to get her shoes dirty, so she stepped on the bread, but it sinked into the swamp with her... James ! I know what they are now - they are my childhood memories. My grandma used to tell me all those fairytales when I was a little girl. And I think..., I have to go back home to see my family now, because they need me.

- Katie, my dear, I love you so much, but I know that I can't keep you with me any longer. I just want you to be happy!

- Thank you James. I don't know how could I forget my own life?!!
I thought, it was just a dream. You helped me to remember again everything about it.

Kat went down the streets to her house, where husband and son lived.
She entered the house, her husband James was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, son Ben was watching a movie.
- Good morning guys, - she said, - Anybody hungry?
They both shook their heads - No, - Ben said - I am fine.

Kat noticed dirty dishes in the sink.
She put on her apron and cleaned the dishes. After she put the teapot on the stove, she peeled and cut few potatoes, started to fry them and made pancakes with applesauce. She served the table and called her husband and son to the kitchen to have brunch together.

They sit quietly, everyone was eating without interest to start conversation, so she asked her husband,
- How do you like pancakes? Are they came out ok?
- Yes, - her husband James answered, - they are fine, but next time don't use sugar, it would be better with honey.
- Oh,  you are right dear, I forgot, that you do like it with honey and sour cream, - she smiled with apology.
- Ben, Do you want to go to the lake today? - Kat asked her son.
- No, mom I want play video game! - he ate quickly and rushed to his room.
- I don't want to go anywhere today either, - James told her with the irritation in his voice, - It's my day off and I want to do nothing at all.
  He finished his meal, then took a cup of tea with him and went to the couch to watch football.

Kat cleaned the table, did the dishes. She put vegetables to the pot to cook soup for dinner, vacuum cleaned and washed the bathrooms, picked up clothes from the floor and put into the laundry machine. She collected garbage from all rooms and asked her husband James:
- Honey, can you please help and take the garbage out?
- I am tired at work and now my only rest time. Can you leave me alone! If it is bothering you , do it yourself! - he said.
- You are right, no problem, - answered Kat, - I know you are working very hard.

She took the garbage out, fixed the beds, folded laundry and finished cooking dinner.
Day and evening went quietly and quickly.  Morning was super fast, because everyone was in the rush to get to work and to school.
Kat was doing everyday routine over and over again, she keeps quiet and warm to everyone in the house. Kat didn't want to complain about anything. She reminded herself, that she loves her boys, this is her family she always wished for.
But she also wanted just a little bit of compassion.

One day she asked her son:
- Why can't you clean your room after you done with homework and please, don't throw your dirty socks on the floor, put them in the laundry basket.

- Mom!!!! You are interrupting the game! Close the door! -  he screamed.

Kat didn't say anything, she went to iron her husband's shirt for work. On the next morning she noticed that the shirt is laying under the chair and she asked husband:
- Dear, why can't you put your shirt in the wardrobe, so it will be fine to be wore for one more day? And can I ask you please fix the bed after you get up?

- Why are you always nagging? - said her husband, - You are a woman, it's your job!

- Yes dear, - Kat obeyed her husband quietly.

One day she got sick with running fever. Her husband made her tea and breakfast, he brought her medicine. She felt special as she was a princess. The only problem,  that nothing helped, every day she was getting weaker. She was trying to do all housekeeping work as much as she could, but it made her tired. She stopped going to work, she stopped cooking at home. Her husband got so irritated by it,
- I don't want to be a housewife, I am not a woman!
- I don't know what is wrong with me James, maybe I just need a kind word from you honey? - Kat answered with confusion.
 
Next day she was too weak and couldn't get up from the bed, Kat was calling her son to bring her a cup water, but no one responded. "He is probably asleep and husband is working late...", - she was thinking.

Nevertheless, Kat was happy, that she had a family and she thought her life is perfect, but now she remembered the words her grandmother used to say  - "when you feel happy and think that now your life is in control, all your dreams will fly away and you will receive a new life lesson".
"This could be my lesson", - Kat was thinking and she did flew again, she was free again...
When her husband James arrived from work and he saw his son was running after the bird. He stopped him and hugged his shoulders.
"Fly, little birdie! Be safe up there!"

Suddenly, Kat woke up from the noise.
"Katie!!!", - Sandy yelled from the hallway, - I brought you some fruits and a bread. I have to run back to work. Hope you are feeling better today?- Sandy said when she picked at Kat's bedroom.
- Yes , I am fine. Thank you Sandy, - Kat answered and sat up on the bed.
- Get well soon, girl! I will call you tonight.

 Sandy left and Kat was looking around her room.
 "Did I sleep until noon?!! Nonsense...", - she thought.

Fantasies become dreams... and she couldn't stop them, because they were blooming as the wild flowers.
She saw NyQuil medicine on the night table and realized what made her sleep for long hours.
Kat looked up, the dreamcatcher was still on the wall by her bed, which means it caught her dream and let it fly away - "no worries about husband and children yet or a boyfriend either. James is not in her dream anymore, he is not her boyfriend and not even a friend..."
- Kat took a deep breath, - "it's better this way, because friendship requires love from both sides. No more fantasies! I will stop thinking about him eventually."

Sandy came over after work and they had dinner together.
- We have to get out of this apartment! - Sandy was looking at Kat, smiling with tease.
- Are you going to spoil another boy?! - Kat asked her.  They both laughed.
- When the last time you had a date?! Common Katie, let's go to see a movie or something!!!
- Sandy, you know that I would love to go, but I always swamped with work.
- You are missing the chance to meet a guy, he will be mine! - Sandy was teasing her.

Kat finally gave up, she put on some lipstick and walking shoes,
- You are killing me !!! - Kat screamed , - Ok, let's go, but only for a walk!
Sandy smiled back, she also put on sneakers, picked up her purse from the table and followed after Kat to the elevator.

It was still light outside, evening was warm and calm. They went toward the city park, got ice-cream cones and was looking for an empty bench where they can sit down and watch sunset.
- It so beautiful tonight, isn't it?! - Sandy said, - and you didn't want to go out for the whole day, crazy! Look at those men with dogs!
- Hey, who is crazy, I am looking at the sunset , - Kat hugged her best friend, - I love you Sandy you know that, what would I do without you! You are my soul sister forever!

Kat felt relaxed and happy to spend beautiful evening with Sandy, she listened to her and couldn't resist to look at one of the guy who was walking his dog in the park.
"Wow!" - Kat couldn't stop herself staring at him , -  Sandy, it's him!!! - Kat almost screamed, -  I always wish to have him , he is shiny like a gold with green eyes and here we are!!!! Sandy, did you see him? He has such warm hazel eyes,  -  Kat said to the guy, who was walking a dog next to them.

 - It is impossible! Yes, brunette with green eyes, as you always described him to me since high school, I can't believe it! - Sandy screamed .

- Sandy, you told me I have to meet him today, - Kat exclaimed.
She couldn't resist to stand up and come over closer, she stood on her knee.

- Hello, - Kat patted the golden retriever, - What is his name? - she asked the guy.
- His name is Max, don't be afraid, he is very friendly, - said young man.
- I can feel it, hi Max! You have beautiful beautiful eyes, -  Kat smiled and hugged Max, - I am Kat. She took Max's paw.

- And I am... , - young man didn't finish.
- Mister Right! - screamed Sandy, she was standing behind him.

He looked confused, - Am I really ?! - he was laughing, - I am Arthur, It is nice to meet you too, Sandy and Kat. I hope to see you here again sometimes. I live in that building across the street.
- So do we, happy to meet - said Sandy with excitement, - ...in apartment 4!
- I wish you a good evening ladies, sorry I have to go, see you again pretty neighbors! - Arthur smiled and walked away.

- Are you crazy to tell an apartment number to a complete stranger?! - Kat couldn't believe it.

- He is not a stranger , he is Mr Right! - Sandy said, - and I already love him, he is so cute, isn't he?!

- I was looking at his dog, silly! - Kat answered and both of them laughed.

Sandy sat on the bench next to Kat, watching sunset and thinking how life can bring surprises and be unpredictable.

They went home, made popcorn and was watching movie "Serendipity".
Sandy fall asleep on the couch and Kat covered her with warm blanket and turned off the TV set.
   She went to the kitchen to get some tea and a minute later she fell down on the floor. "What's is wrong with me today!" - she said crying and rubbing her knee. She tripped over the backpack, "why it is even here?!" -  she was thinking and then she remembered, that she wanted to go to the lake this weekend, she was hoping to invite James to spend time together. "Yeah..., I definitely need to stop those fantasies!" - she ordered herself.
   Kat didn't know if she even want them anymore, - hey, stop worrying about something you can't change! - as she always says to herself, - when the love leaves the wounds, new love can always heal them. It's time for new adventure! And no matter what the result will be, it is worth to dream again, because it is not just a dream, it is new life, that only you can live the way you wanted.