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The Dream?
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The Dream? |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Alison thought she would always remember the last look on her ex husband’s face as he realized the gun was aimed at him. His face, taunting her, sneering at her, was all she could see in the darkness of her mind. After the shot, she stepped quickly over the body. The grotesque matting where the face should be was now swarmed with flies attracted by the slightly drying blood. She dropped the gun to the ground and walked quickly to her car. Fumbling for her keys, she leaned against the car door to catch her breath. “Breathe” she crooned. “Just breathe.” After three attempts, she inserted the key into the lock and opened the door. Behind the wheel, she closed her eyes then quickly opened them again. She started the car and with a quick look over her shoulder at his body, she pulled away from the side of the road. She drove for almost an hour. No one was expecting her home at this time of the day. Her husband was supposed to pick the kids up from school since it was his day to have them. But of course he couldn’t now, so his mother probably would walk the block to school when they didn’t arrive and bring them to the house Alison used to share with her husband. As she entered the city limits, she realized her hands were shaking. She pulled over and turned off the engine. How long she sat there, she never knew. Her mind wandered to the past. They had been happy; well she had been…..she realized at the end of her marriage that her husband was only happy if she was miserable and he perfected the art of making her so. Jack didn’t beat her. But he used their physical relationship to control her. If she was a good wife and didn’t ask him where he was all those nights when he didn’t come home, he was a kind, loving man. But if she questioned him or stepped out of line even once, he would make her pay for it in bed. She shuddered thinking of it. One day, six months previously, she’d had enough. She secretly filed for divorce and got it. Jack was furious! Each time she saw him afterwards, his dark eyes promised revenge. She began getting flowers at work. Cards left on her car. And phone calls in the middle of the night. Each time he used the same phrase: I dream of making you pay! She called the police and they told her they could do nothing unless she was physically attacked and since she couldn’t prove it was Jack, they were useless to her. Last week, she bought the gun. For protection she reasoned. And today, when he came to the house in the middle of the day, she decided to use it. She asked him to go for a ride to talk things over. And he, like a fool, agreed. Now, shaking off her musing, she started the car and drove home. She wondered how long it would be before they found his body. Exhausted, she hurried upstairs to her room and lay down. Surprisingly, she fell quickly asleep. She woke suddenly. Downstairs, she heard her daughters laughing. It was strange, as they weren’t due home till later. She got up and walked downstairs. Her littlest one, Megan, stood in the archway to the living room giggling at someone sitting there. “Megan!” she called. Her daughter turned with a smile and ran to give her a hug. “What are you doing home?” “Daddy wants to go skating so we came home to get my skates.” Alison went cold. Looking up she could see Jack standing in the living room! How could this be? She’d seen the face ripped off his head with the shot from the gun! She put her shaking hand to her face. “Mommie! What’s wrong?” Megan asked worriedly. “Alison!” Jack called. “You look as if you’d seen a ghost!” Alison swayed and fainted. “Alison! Wake up.” Alison opened her eyes. She was in bed and Jack stood over her. She quickly closed her eyes again. She’d killed him, she knew she had. But how could he be alive now, standing over her like this. She realized she must be dreaming and kept her eyes tightly shut. “Alison, this will not do!” Jack’s voice boomed. “Hiding from the situation won’t solve it!” Alison opened her eyes. Jack was there on the side of the bed talking to her…she tuned him out! He was angry, accusing and belligerent. She rose and went to the bathroom, shutting out his tirade when she shut the door. I just need to wake up! She thought. Just wake up! In the mirror, her haunted eyes stared back at her. She was not crazy! She had killed him! She took a deep breath and left the bathroom to confront him. Jack sat on the edge of the bed, tying his shoes. “Well?” he asked. “Are you going to get dressed?” “Yes,” Alison murmured. “ I want a divorce.” “Never!” Jack laughed! “I’ll never give you one! Are you crazy?” She left the room and performed her motherly duties for the girls. Breakfast cooked. Lunches made. All the while, she was like a robot, not feeling anything. She knew for a certainty that this must be a dream! The next three days were like a nightmare! Each day Jack came home later and later. And each night he demanded she make love to him. Alison realized this is what the last days of their marriage had been like. It was the longest dream she’d ever had. As Jack rolled off her last night, he’d asked what she would do if he left her. Alison whispered quietly, “I’d kill you”. Jack laughed, thinking she was jealously guarding their relationship. The next morning, Alison bought another gun. She called Jack at his office and told him she was going to pick him up for lunch. They agreed she would drive them to the next town for a quiet meal. At noon, she arrived and Jack got in the car. Alison knew the way. She’d traveled there just a few days ago. When she pulled to the side of the road and got out, Jack sat looking at her. “What are you doing?” he asked through the window. “Get out.” She said as she opened her purse. “Alison, you are acting weird lately! Maybe you should see a doctor!” Alison pulled the gun from her purse and fired. Alison thought she would always remember the last look on her ex husband’s face as he realized the gun was aimed at him. His face, taunting her, sneering at her, was all she could see in the darkness of her mind. After the shot, she stepped quickly over the body. The grotesque matting where the face should be was now swarmed with flies attracted by the slightly drying blood. She dropped the gun to the ground and walked quickly to her car. Fumbling for her keys, she leaned against the car door to catch her breath. “Breathe” she crooned. “Just breathe.” After three attempts, she inserted the key into the lock and opened the door. Behind the wheel, she closed her eyes then quickly opened them again. She started the car and with a quick look over her shoulder at his body, she pulled away from the side of the road. This time she drove straight home. She called her office and told them she wouldn’t be in that afternoon. Then she lay down and fell asleep. “Alison! Wake up.” Alison opened her eyes. She was in bed and Jack stood over her. She quickly closed her eyes again. She’d killed him, she knew she had. But how could he be alive now, standing over her like this. She realized she must be dreaming and kept her eyes tightly shut. “Alison, this will not do!” Jack’s voice boomed. “Hiding from the situation won’t solve it!” I just need to wake up! She thought. Just wake up! That day began as the other one a week ago. This time, after the girls had gone to school, Alison called in sick at work. She took a sleeping pill and lay down on the living room sofa. Her last thought before drifting off was that she’s been spending a lot of money on guns lately. “She looks like she’s sleeping!” “Such a tragedy!” Voices murmuring around her woke Alison from her nap. Her eyes, leaden from the pill she took, would barely open. She could just see the figures standing around her in the living room. “Why are you all here?” she asked. The voices continued as she was ignored. “For heavens sake, can’t you see I’m taking a nap!” She cried. She tried to rise but her body felt heavy. She looked up and saw the top of a casket looming above her. Her hands lay clasped on her stomach and as she tried to raise them, she realized they must be tied down! Suddenly, Jack stood over her. He looked right at her but didn’t see her struggling to speak! “I don’t understand! She had everything to live for! Why would she kill herself?” Jack asked in agony. “Jack,” she tried to say, “I’m not dead! I’m just asleep!” No words came out of her mouth. The harder she tried to speak the more panic she felt till she was fairly screaming! “I’m awake! I’m awake!” And as he lid of the casket closed and darkness enveloped her, Alison cried silently. I just need to wake up! Just wake up! [This message has been edited by Poet deVine (edited 02-13-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Poet deVine - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
Wow Sharon. I just don't know what to say except...Wow, what a nightmare!! |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
Wow, your story was gripping from beginning to end. Applause! It sadly, reminded me of my Mom's relationship with my father when they were married. Excellent story. I like the use of repeating paragraphs, very clever. You have a great talent. Take care, Melissa Honeybee  |
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Dusk Treader
Moderator
Senior Member
since 1999-06-18
Posts 1187St. Paul, MN |
WOW Sharon! That was chilling! How she killed him and woke up to him and repeated it again, was so excellently done, and the ending was great! I loved this one! You must share your talent in here more often! A writer's soul is on paper etched. In flames I shall not be consumed, but reborn. -- Abrahm Simons |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Thank you. I am so nervous about prose...afraid my stories wander..at the end, I wanted to convey that the reader is not sure if Alison wakes up..or is even asleep or ever was asleep.. thanks for reading..now that the 'terror' is over.. I'll be back to read and post again..whew! |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Sitting her speechless for a few moments, I pondered over some of the statements that you've made to me over the past several months. Over and over, one in particular keeps repeating itself in my mind... This is another incredible tale from the depths of an intriguing mind. You've managed in one fell swoop to develop caring, kindness, hatred, loathing, despair and dementia. I never for one second doubted that the woman had truly shot her husband. Then when you shifted it to show that it was a recurring dream, I never doubted that. You managed to surprise me three times in one story! Marvellous Sharon. Well written, with enough depth to show the characters, without spelling each emotion out! Bravo Sharon, and in your own words... SUBMIT! |
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CMGrimm Senior Member
since 2000-02-14
Posts 685USA |
WOW!!! Prose is one of my favorite styles of writing, however I am still in the practicing stages myself. I truly enjoyed this story, it reminds me alot of POE (my favorite) in some ways. Very gripping read. Thank You. Chris |
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bobbycat Member
since 2000-02-06
Posts 233USA |
WOW.....*jaw dropped to the floor in awe*....that was so spectacular! I'm STILL trying to figure out if it all was a dream or reality, so I think you achieved your goal of wanting to leave the reader guessing...LOL! Great job! I'm glad I stopped by!Bobbycat =^..^= |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
There are no words. I love you so much more for this....and? loved you much before, sharon. |
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Swamp¤Faeryie Member
since 2000-12-04
Posts 393fairyland....of course;) |
that was really weird......VERY interesting. i liked towards the end where the people are saying she looks like she's just asleep,and she sorta is.....weird. excellent writing though sam Do i contradict myself?Very well i contradict myself.I contain multitudes.~walt whitman |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Wow... amazing writing, Sharon. You had my head spinning trying to figure out what was real and what was the dream... Thanks for sharing.  "Where there is great love there are always miracles" -Cather "Love heals everything, and love is all there is"- Zukav |
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Dawn Eclipse Senior Member
since 2000-01-31
Posts 637The Horsehead Nebula |
That was chilling... I felt like I was there... and my heart started to race when she first discovered him alive again. What a wonderful tale! "Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other course, no other way... No day but today" ~Broadway Musical RENT~ *Cassandra Roseen* |
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JOY 14 Senior Member
since 1999-09-22
Posts 1419Wisconsin USA |
Wandering is the beauty of it. Let the reader make up their own mind. This was fantastic!! I have to come here to Prose more often. It's like reading mini novels! Joy Our doubts are traitors, And make us loose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt. ~Shakespeare |
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