4 The Dream Boy

She was out of words. She stare blankly in the dark clouds, not a star to be seen. Its gonna rain. Earlier in the afternoon Marco came to have tea. Its normal to them. Friends and the only neighbors in this side of the estate. They grew up like this. They know each other forever. Her thoughts wander, as restless as the waves of the sea down the cliff she frequents. She would have gone there to think now if not of the threatening rain. Not that she could go down on that height. It will be suicide. Down the cliff are huge stones, sharp and pointy, where the sea crashes hard sending sea water above. Not a beach even. She would have loved to touch the sand, know what it feels like against her feet. To write letters on it. But she had never been to one.

Marriage. When she's only fifteen. Is it normal to talk about it? She's too young. But she never had other friends to know what girls her age could have been chatting about. She imagined it has to be their hair. Or their skirt. Or boyfriends and other stuff to gossip about. But marriage?

They had to be nuts to have it as topic over tea. Sure in the future why not. As she had answered who else is there, not that Mar is a bad choice. And like a pointy finger her mind accused her of starting that anyway. She cant even remember now what she was thinking that time. But arent they supposed to laugh about it? It was Mar who went serious on it.

And what is the deal with her dreams anyway? Cant a girl have her crush on? That boy in her dreams might as well be Damon Salvatore with those eyes that seems to connect to her soul and read her most inner thoughts.

She sighed. She knows she never had set her eyes on that boy in her life. How he is so real in her dreams she do not know. Is he her soulmate? But does soulmates make themselves known in dreams? Do they like appear there and say hello, im your lover?

She knew this boy from all her dreams. It was only recently that she realized she's been dreaming of this boy since she was younger, although lately its more often. Maybe she made up this boy in her mind in her spite for Karl. Whenever Karl angers her and she could do nothing but cry herself to sleep, this boy would appear, takes her hand and make her smile. He is like the Marco of her dreams except that he is not blond, except that she had fallen in love with this boy, that which she could not do for Mar. And they dont do afternoon tea. They kiss.

As she look at the clouds again, she wondered if he at all exists and live somewhere. Would she ever meet him?

*****

Tonight the moon is full and much closer to the sea. Ah, beautiful. And the sea rolls to her feet she shivered on the touch. Her nostrils filled with sea air. She spreads her arms and welcome the cold. She feels free. On times like this, Karl and his estate could be a thousand miles away and she dont care. Its as if she had grown wings and she could flee from all of it. How she wished it would be so. But she knew somewhere, the moon is not full. The clouds ought to threaten rain. And she isnt really here down the cliff for there ought to be nothing here but sharp stones. She is dreaming.

"But what holds your wings from flying, love?" ah, that voice. Like a soft caress of a rose to her soul. Giving it color. Awakening her senses.

She turned to see her dream boy smiling at her. But this time his eyes were sad.

"Are you sad to see me?" she asked.

"Not at all. But I thought I am your bethroted, now I'm not so sure" his eyes went to the moon.

How could he be so beautiful? How could he make her feel he is all she needs. That he will give her the world.

"Do you exist beyond my mind? I dont even know your name" she accused.

He approached her took her to his arms. She wept. She couldnt help it. She had been in love with him for awhile, wished countless times he is real. She even wished she wouldnt wake up anymore to be with him. That she cant love Mar more than she ought to, for this boy lives in her heart as he does on her mind, theres little space for anyone else.

"I will find you. I will find this cliff that separates us. Dont give your hand to anybody else." his voice laced with pain it hurts her.

"Who are you? How could I love you when I dont even know you?" she looks up to meet his eyes. He meet her gaze. Under the moon his gaze unto her is glass like of shimmering blue.

"I am real ma cherie. I will take you away from here. You are my beloved, they cant keep you away from me." And he claimed her mouth in a passionate, mind-consuming, heart-melting kiss. And there is nothing else that matters.

The softness of his mouth on her, his hand on her back pulling her closer. She hugged her arms on his neck and she raised her body deepening the kiss. The moon shine brightly, the sea foam continues to roll. There is no more perfect moment than this. Please go on forever, please dont let go.

But the kiss ended and once again his eyes are on her. "If you could only awaken on your own" he sighed.

"What do you mean?" still dazed with the kiss, her eyes fill with passion and confusion meets his all too loving but wary blue eyes.

"Your life is not real my love. Your dreams are. Wait for me, I will come for you. Until then dont give your heart to anybody else."again, his eyes flashed in pain.

"But I love only you", she assured.

"They mean to tie your heart to somebody else so that our love will be lost. Don't let that happen." she hugged him tight. Her cheeks close to his heart. She feel the warmth of his chest. This boy, she chose to believe. How pathetic it may seem, to fall in love in dreams. To hold on to someone you dont even know for real. He says he is real. He says he loves her and would come for her, but how real can a dream be.

"Do you mean Mar?" she asked softly.

"I do not know of his name. I only know they mean to take you away. If only you will awaken…" his eyes mirror the same frustration to that, she cant help but asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I do not mean to trouble your mind, love. In time you will know everything. You will find out. I have seen they prevented everything from letting you know. I myself cant come to you except in your dreams. And your current self wont awaken on its own. But I will come for you" his gaze promising, loving, his voice gentle.

The moon has started to fade, and the sea is pulling itself away. The dream is about to end. She knows somebody is waking her up.

He hugged her tighter and kissed her again. She doesnt want to let go.

"I will be right here waiting" she whispered.

*****

"Franchesca!" Karl shouted waking her up.

She looked up at her brother in confusion. Just what time is it? Nanny is in the corner of the room too.

"What is going on?" she asked sleepily.

"What?! you asked? The rain is coming in the window and you just sleep there like a statue Nanny cant even wake you up. Cant you see everything is soaked in rain already even you?!" his voice not a tone down. She look around her room and true enough, the rain has come in the room. And she is dripping! Oh my God did she really sleep all through this?

"Take her to the bath Nanny. She's going to get sick for this. And clean the room!" and he walked out the door slamming it behind him.

"I'll take care of myself Nanny, sorry for making you work at this hour." And she walk to the door of her bathroom. Still in a sleepy state she filled the tub with hot water and lavander oil. She shake her head. Sleeping under the rain. But remembering her dream, her emotions suddenly flood on her. Love. Confusion. Cold. She stepped into the bath while her thoughts had gone back to that boy. Of their promise. In her heart a conviction to believe him. Im sane. I couldnt have made him up. Its just too much.

When she went out her room is again clean and fresh, how Nanny did that in a short time she dont know. The floor is dry again, the curtains had been changed. Her bed remade. As if the rain didnt come at all. This time though her french windows are closed as the weather didnt change outside. Her dream boy didnt come again that night. It was morning again when she opened her eyes.