“Good night, kids, and thank you again for the great presents.”
“Okay, Mom….and we can tell you’re getting old since you’re going to bed so early.”
“I’m not old, ya brats…I’ve just had a very long day and I need my sleep.”
“Sure, Mom, whatever you say” and your kids burst into laughter as you leave the living room and go back to your bedroom. You close and lock the door behind you, then undress. A quick shower, you think, and then you’ll be off for some much needed sleep. You smile to yourself as you think of what a nice time you’ve had this evening, the dinner with your kids, the presents and the cake and ice cream. You know you are a lucky woman to be so blessed, but as you turn off the lamp on your nightstand and settle back to sleep, you can’t help but think that you need just one more thing to make this a perfect day. If only you had a loving man snuggling up with you now, your happiness would be complete….and then your eyes close and you drift off to sleep…..
++++++++++
You don’t know what awakens you, but suddenly you lift yourself to one elbow, then turn the lamp back on. A quick glance at the clock….2 AM…and then you realize you’re not alone, that there’s a vague shape in the edge of the lamp’s glow. Your heart begins to race and you ask ” Who’s there?” with a little tremor in your voice.
I step closer to you, to where the light shines fully on my face. “It’s just me, Gayle.” I whisper in a soft voice.
“Wade? How can you be here? How did you get in?” Despite the strangeness of my presence, you feel no fear, just a curiosity at how this could be happening…. it has to be a dream, you think.
“Yes, honey, that’s exactly what it is….you are dreaming of me.” I move over to the edge of your bed and smile down at you. “This is for you, babe….another present for your birthday.” I stretch out my hand and give you a crystal vase with a single pink long-stemmed rose in it. A smile fills your face and a tear comes to your eye as you take it from me. You smell it, the sweet perfume surrounding you….then you whisper, “Thank you Wade. This is just so unbelievable, and yet so real too.”
I take the vase from your hand and place it on your nightstand by the lamp.