A knock. Will and I both looked at each other wondering who would visit me around 7:43 pm.
"Come in"
Him, it was that guy from earlier but now with a girl, and a balloon. His face seemed red from the humid night. She giggles and tilts her head, then runs up to me after grabbing the balloon from him to hand it to me then runs to hide behind Will.
"Thank you."
She glances and nods her head. Then runs back to him.
"Come on Carey it's only been a few months." Says Will.
"Hey chill, she's like 6."
There was an awkward silence in the room until Will took the child out for the cafe down the corner. Leaving me and that guy. I just couldn't remember his name and had to ask for a second time.
"I'm sorry, it may seem rude of me but what's your name again?"
"It's Jess, no worries."
The silence among us seemed so strong. It felt too strange for me. I couldn't do anything, but what could I do?
"Hey, would you like to hear a story from my mind?"
His head perked up and he giggled.
"Sure."
"Well, they're like my dreams."
"That's fine."
His innocent yet tired expression showed through his face, he seemed that he was going to be ready. Yet this story is only a mirage from my dreams. From my endless slumber and my endurance of lingering hope. When I tell this story, I will wish for him to find his star from above.
…
There's a fountain in the middle of the sea. At night you can't cross it and you can't float upon it. Yet in the night sky, the moonlight is melting in the water. There was a boy at that fountain, this night, this late.
The rays of the moonlight reflected across the sea as a curtain guided by the waves. Strong winds pushed the waves and felt as if they were lifting me off of the shoreline. I stood there upon the cold sand, swaying against the wind. If I could only reach out to the boy, he looked so lonely at that fountain. Pulling out the fishes in the fountains and tossing them to sea.
They were all different, each carp in the shade of silver, black, orange, and mixed. His eyes looked hurt as if he didn't want to let them go. His tears shined in the moonlight, his hands trembling in the cold, with each release he whispers. Then he notices me.
He looks over and continues crying and says something. His face looked petrified. I can't do anything, I can't cross this sea. It feels different yet it draws me in, it feels a powerful tugging on my heart. He jumps off the fountain into the water. Now I have no choice but to jump in.
I know this is a dream but I hate the feeling of neglecting someone.
The sea felt bottomless. No shallow waters and no footing. I can't help but feel the sadness, I can't get over it but I sunk. I know I can swim, but I just feel so heavy at this moment. The boy is underneath me but I can't get over to him, I can't do anything.
But then a light shone from the bottomless sea. The boy is gone. A hand grasps for mine and pulls me above and to shore. It was a guy, he checked if I was still alive. And when I awoke he shouted at me and cried.
"Leroy, how could you?" He rests his fist upon my chest. "I don't care if Synthia hurts me or tries to ruin me. Just don't make me see you like this again!"
I didn't know what to say but I said something. And this vision is now over.
…
Carey and Will returned. When I finished telling my dream, he was looking down at the floor and was holding back his tears.
"Hey, were you the one who saved me?"
"Yes." He replied.
Will came in and was holding a smoothie then handed it to me.
"Well, thank you. You saved me twice or more."
Will gave me a puzzled look. But then shrugs it off. Jess didn't reply but nodded.
As he got up to leave, I felt a little anxious but I couldn't let him go this time.
"Hey," I said, he turned back. "Hope I'll see you tomorrow and maybe we could meet up when I'm out."
"Sure." And walked out with Carey in his hands.
Will just sat at the window slurping his smoothie. I just had one question.
"Will, was that Jess's daughter?"
"No, his younger sister."
For some reason, I questioned why I also asked that.