Night falls on my house and once again, I am trying to get to sleep. I’m sleepy enough, but my mind wanders aimlessly, keeping me awake. It touches on thought after thought, never staying there for long. I roll over onto my side, attempting to get comfortable. More wandering thoughts; my brain is so sleepy, yet so awake that I’m only vaguely aware of what I’m thinking about. Well, except for her. Again. She’s the common thread linking all my thoughts, the one thing that stands out against the nothingness.

I roll over onto my back. Maybe I’ll see her again tonight; my dreamgirl. Maybe, when I go to sleep, she will be there, waiting, like she promised she would be. That was only a dream though. Wasn’t it? My brain turns this thought over, before discarding it, deciding it is worthless. My brain is to sleepy to distinguish dreams from reality; it views them as the same and I am to comfortable to argue.

I can feel my body getting heavy now, relaxing itself. It’s a strange feeling, but at least I’m finally comfortable. My brain slowly starts shutting itself off for the night; the thoughts become fewer and fewer, fading as I sink into my dreamworld. The last image I see before I am completely gone is her face. She’s smiling at me.

I find myself standing in front of Molly’s house, on the walkway leading up to her front porch. I can see her on the front porch, talking to Hannah, my dreamgirl. It is nighttime. The only light I can see is Molly’s porch light. As I walk up, I hear them talking.

“Hannah, you have to tell her. I think she knows.”

“She can’t possibly know. How could she possibly know?”

“Well, okay, maybe she doesn’t know, but she told me she likes you.”

“She did?”

“Yes. You also told me that you like her. Quit playing around and tell her.”

I walk up to the front porch, wondering who the “her” in this scenario is. “Hi guys,” I say, walking up behind Hannah. I am close enough to touch her, close enough to wrap my arms around her and never let her go. The urge is strong, but I hold back.

Molly grins mischievously. “Leslie, Hannah has something she wants to tell you.”

“I do not!” Hannah sounds exasperated. I’m standing behind her, but she’s still facing Molly.

“Hann, you need to. Both of you.” Molly peeks around Hannah, looking at me, motioning something to Hannah at the same time. Hannah finally turns around; I feel my heart pounding in my chest. She looks at me intently; her eyes are soft.

“Come on,” she says. “We have to talk.” She takes my hand, entwining her fingers with mine. Without a word, she leads me off the porch and down the street. I’m so happy, I feel like I’m floating. I swear my feet aren’t even touching the ground.

Back in my room, night continues on; the crickets chirp outside, a car alarm goes off in the distance, a lone owl hoots, my cat jumps on my bed, kneading her paws on my arm, silently purring before settling down. I roll over onto my side, unaware of everything around me. I’m in to deep; all I care about is Hannah. I tuck my knees up into my chest, smiling in my sleep. I sigh happily as my dream continues on.

“So, how does it feel,” she asks me, as we continue down the street.

“How does what feel?” I ask, feeling slightly puzzled at the question.

“This. Holding hands.”

I look down at our entwined hands and smile. Her hand feels soft, warm, like it was made to fit into mine. I look up, meeting her eyes. “It feels nice.”

“It does?”

“Yes.”

She smiles. “I’m glad. You doing alright?”

“Yes.”

“Okay good.” We walk down the street in silence, holding hands the whole way. We eventually reach a park; everything is dark, except for a few lone street lights. Hannah leads me to the middle of the park, where there is less light. She let’s go of my hand, then walks in front of me, facing me. I look down at my hand; it feels weird to have it empty. I look up again…and discover that a thick blanket of fog has come over the park; it was swirling around when we first got here, now everything is covered. Hannah is standing in front of me, but I can barely see her. I feel anxious.

“Hannah? Where are you?” I try to keep calm.

“It’s okay Leslie; I’m right here. In front of you. Don’t be scared.”

“But—“

“Just hang on okay? Reach your hand out; you should touch me. It’s okay, I’m right in front of you. Don’t be scared.” I reach my hand out, but feel nothing but damp air.

“Hannah?”

“Yes?”

“I’m cold.”

I’m lying in my bed, legs tucked up to my chest, shivering. I have kicked the covers off unaware; I reach a hand out, groping sleepily for the bed covers. I withdraw my hand after a few minutes, tucking it back into my chest in an attempt to warm up.

“You’re cold?”

“Yeah. I didn’t bring a jacket.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” I search my brain, trying to remember where I had put my jacket, but I can’t remember. All I can think about at the moment is the pea soup fog. “I’m scared.”

“You don’t have to be scared. Just stay there okay? Don’t move. If one of us moves, we won’t be able to find each other. Just…try reaching for my hand again.”

I try not to cry, but my voice breaks. “I couldn’t find it last time. All I felt was damp, foggy air.”

“Leslie, don’t cry. I promise, it’s okay. Look, I have my hand out in front of me. Just reach for me again. You can do it. Just try. Please? For me?”

I swallow my tears and reach my hand out again, groping in the air. I go to withdraw it, but feel something in it. Something soft, warm, like whatever I’m holding was made to fit into it. I smile, my body feeling warm again. The fog clears and Hannah is standing in front of me, smiling. “See, I told you you could do it.”