Dreams of Reality + Chapter One

Mommy told me that she needed to finish some errands before she left. I, being a good girl, respected that and I stayed home all by myself in our house. I live in Yiko City, where it's snowing outside. I quickly rushed to the fireplace where it is warm. The fire burned while I watched in awe. It seemed to pass back memories of when Daddy was here holding me from the cold. I am now six - years - old now so I can take care of myself.

While gazing at the scorching light, the faintest bits of memories bounced from the past and into presence of my head. I could remember Daddy picking me up, a broad smile on his face, "Lenn, you're the reason why I wake up every morning." With that, he handed me a box of jigsaw puzzles. My eyes sparkled with delight. "I love you."

"Daddy?" I found the puzzle box and poured out all the pieces. There were a lot, too much to be accounted for. Though, these were my last pieces of Daddy that I have in my hand. The puzzle was supposed to be a picture of a cottage in the snow. I gently picked up the first piece in my hand. It was a small fragment of the chimney for the cottage. Excitement began to rise as I thought of the finished picture. "Daddy would be so proud."

Seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours. The fire kept the warmth going, and yet, I only got three pieces together. There was this special piece that I can't seem to pair up. It has snowflakes on it, which I thought was very pretty. Somehow, however, there was nothing quite like it. I searched all over the table for the second piece. "Where is it?" I silently asked, "Where can it be?" The excitement in my stomach started to drift away as fury found its place in. It was no use. There was a mistake. There was no other piece that could ever fit with it. I took a deep sigh and dropped the one I was holding.

Suddenly, a knock came from the door.

Knock - knock!

I froze. Who could be at the door at this time of day? Is it Mommy? No, she has the keys. I know I shouldn't open the door . . . so I waited, waited for them - whomever it is - to go away.

Knock - knock!

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Please, leave me alone," I whispered. I was afraid and I was lost. It kept knocking and then, before I could gain control again, my body lifted me up and opened the door.

What I saw after I opened it was the strangest sight. My eyes widened and I caught myself frozen, staring into the eyes of an elderly lady outside the door. She cocked her head. The smile on her face never faded away. I was still afraid as I took small breaths.

"Hello, young child."

"H-Hello . . ." I stammered. The lady seemed kind and gentle, but she was still a stranger. She nodded to me.

"Oh, please, don't be afraid. Now tell me, what is your name?"

I tried to calm down and answer the simple question, but it was not easy. Her smile finally faded and she now looked serious.

Her question didn't seem that important anymore. "Lenn," the lady said quietly. I looked up at her. How does she know? She placed her hand on my shoulders, "I'm a friend of your father's."

I tilted my head. Fear still flew around me, but after she mentioned my father, I knew she was my friend too. "Daddy? Is he coming home?"

Before I knew, we were inside, blocked from the terrible weather. I listened closely as she told me the story of Daddy, of when he left me to war. "He's not coming back, my dear." She cupped her hand around mine. She was lying. She has to be. I don't want to believe her. . .yet.

I could see the visible tears escaping her eyes. "I'm sorry," she softly cried. "But your father. . .he is in . . .he is in Heaven now." Then she leaned over and embraced me. I felt warm tears coming out too. I don't have to believe her. He was my Daddy. Before he left, he promised me that he would come back. I know that he would never break a promise, especially ours.

I still had tears in my eyes as the lady was helping me with the puzzle. It was a gift of my father's and there was something about it that makes it very special. I tried hard to pay attention.

The lady studied the snowflake piece. I can tell she was very close to him and it hurt her like a knife when she first found out, like me.

"This piece is very beautiful," she said. "It is unique beyond others." She held the piece in her hand, "A resemblance to you."

"But why can't it fit with another piece?"

She scanned the table, "It is because you are not looking in the right places. Despite its differences, every piece has another." She winked at me. "Like everyone of us has somebody to love."

I watched her hand fly across the table and landed on another piece far away. In my amazement, it connected to the snowflake to form two snowflakes. I wiped the remaining tears away and smiled.

"It fits . . ."I gasped. The old lady nodded. I traced my fingers around the edges. The puzzle has taken another step closer to completion.

Then the lady touched my arm, "He wanted me to tell you that. He wanted you to live your life in full contentment, knowing that there will always be someone you cares and loves you the exact same way he does. If you don't have him now, you will have him in your arms in the future. Just know that you will never be alone." With that, she took my hand and dropped a small gemstone in it. My eyes gazed at it, mesmerize, then turned back to her.

I nodded, not even sure of what she said. As I watched the lady disappear down the cold streets, I knew that Daddy would always be with me. I won't say that he is dead because that would be lying. He will continue holding me from the cold like he does every winter.

Hours later, Mommy came home, bursting into the room crying. I lay my hand on her lap, "He's not gone, Mommy. He's home now, and he says he loves us."