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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Fantasy / Dreams / Wishes
- Published: 01/24/2023
Some of my friends, think I am strange. I keep this dream catcher hanging above the headboard of my bed. Maybe my friends feel that way, because I am a male.
A lot of people think the dream catchers, are more for females to enjoy.
That is so wrong, for so many reasons. It isn’t relevant to my story, but something to think on, none-the-less. So many things in this world, are looked at from that type of screwed up perspective.
Actually, my grandmother’s friend made the dreamcatcher. Shay Rising Star was an amazing person. He was Native American, and left this world a few years ago. I treasure the dream catcher Shay gifted to me. It was one of the many treasures Shay shared. Most of the special things, he gave to others, were in the form of his special knowledge. Shay had a connection to this earth, to the stars, and to other galaxies. I miss him, so much. I know my grandmother, Rose, does as well. She lost my grandfather five years ago, so when Shay died, it was a terrible blow. I try to keep close contact with grandma, and hope that helps to comfort her. Grandma and I are close, but even she never knew this tale, I am about to share.
The whole thing began just after my twenty-first birthday. I live in an apartment, just a few blocks from my grandma’s house. I had only been asleep for a few minutes when I heard what I thought was the wind.
Sitting up in my bed, I could feel the light touch of the feathers on my dreamcatcher, touching my hair. Reaching up, I brushed away the feathers.
When I did, something felt different. The feathers were larger, heavier than before. I turned my head toward the window, thinking I had left it open, and the wind was the culprit behind the noise, and the feeling of the feathers.
I blinked several times, trying to see better in the bedroom, lit only by the moonlight that came in through the, what I now saw were, closed windows.
I realized that although the moon’s beams shone in the room, no wind could come through.
As I stared toward the window, the feel of the feathers again touched the top of my head. Reaching up a hand, I began to brush at the feathers, but my motion was stopped.
A hand touched my own. I almost screamed, but when my mouth opened, the ability to make noise, seemed to be stripped away by my fear. I had heard the term scared speechless before, but didn’t think it was a real occurrence. Now, I knew, and didn’t like the feeling.
I slid away from the hand that was touching me. Finally, I disentangled myself from the bedding and stood up. I was breathing hard. I tried to focus, and slow my breaths down to a more normal speed. I relaxed slightly, and looked across the bed.
I stared in amazement. Standing, staring back, was Shay Rising Star. He laughed at the look on my face.
“Having a bad dream, Kevin?”
I slowly shook my head. “Maybe not a bad dream, but I think I might be hallucinating.”
Shay laughed. The sound was one I remembered well. I felt I was looking at an angel, and thought it was strange Shay’s voice didn’t sound more angelic. Or what I thought an angelic voice might sound like. Saying that, I feel as ignorant as people who don’t think a man should have a dream catcher over his bed. I decided I could deal with that enigma later.
The laugh faded, but the grin stayed on Shay’s face. “You’re not hallucinating. Unless you’re seeing someone here besides me.”
I laughed. “Just you, so I’m okay, I guess.”
I frowned. Why are you here, Shay? You’ve been gone for a couple of years, so why appear now?”
I asked the question, unsure if I really wanted to hear the answer.
When Shay spoke, I knew the words were some I didn’t want to hear, but knew I had to listen, anyway.
“I’m here for your grandmother. Rose is going to be having a heart attack in less than two hours. I wanted to see you first. I know how devastated you will be. I can’t allow you to go down the depression rabbit hole.”
I stared at Shay, finding it hard to breathe. I knew he was telling me the truth. I didn’t have a problem, nor think I was crazy, knowing I was talking to an angel. I did have a problem thinking my grandmother was dying, and in a few hours.
I looked over at the clock on my bedside table. The luminous digital numbers let me know it was ten minutes after one. I needed to be with my grandma, but couldn’t run to her house at one A.M., bang on her door, and try to explain why I was doing it. I stared at Shay.
“What are you talking about. I need to be with grandma, how in the hell do I do that? You want me to bang on her door, and yell let me in, you’re dying soon? Shay, why did you even come here? You know I can’t scare her like that.”
Shay nodded. “That’s exactly why I am here, Kevin. You can’t go over to your grandma’s place. I know by morning, when you learned of her death, if I didn’t share this with you, the guilt would devastate you. That’s why I have broken through the veil to come here. You are the one who needs my help, not her. I am here for you, Kevin.”
Frowning, I glanced over at the dreamcatcher on the wall. Maybe I was dreaming, and the horrible nightmare I was having had somehow escaped being caught in the wall hanging. I moved from the bed, and grabbed my jeans. Slipping them on, I wondered if the t-shirt I had worn to bed was enough to wear. Right now, I really didn’t care.
Shay frowned. “What are you doing Kevin? You don’t need to get dressed right now.”
I sighed. “I just need to be doing something. I can’t believe this is happening.”
I stared at him. “Maybe you got your information wrong, and grandma will be fine.”
Shaking his head, Shay frowned. “No Kevin, I got this right. Why don’t we go out into your kitchen? I think you should sit down.”
I sighed. “That’s a good idea. I’ll put on the coffee.”
The two of us made our way into the kitchen, and I started the coffee brewing. While I waited, I sat down. “When can I go to grandma’s?”
A shrug, was followed by a slight grin. “I don’t think you should go over there for a while. Think about it, what time do you usually go to her house?”
I also shrugged. “Usually just before I go to work, maybe seven or so.”
Shay nodded. “Then that’s when you should go. By then, Rose will have left her body. I know your grandpa is waiting, as we sit here, for Rose to join him.”
That thought made me stop my prior thinking. I could almost see the two of them reuniting in death to continue the great love they had held in life. I felt guilty, thinking of my loss, instead of about the happiness the two would be experiencing. I stared at Shay. “That’s what death is really about, isn’t it Shay? Returning to the arms of our loved ones who left this world before us?”
Nodding, Shay smiled. “Now you are using that brain you were given. Yes, death is mourned by those left behind, but for those on the other side it is a celebration of renewed life. A lot of suffering could be ended if people would keep that thought in mind.”
I grinned. “Thanks Shay, thanks for helping me to realize that, and thanks for coming back to sit with me. It means a lot.”
Shay laughed. “You’ll be seeing more of me. I was given the job to guard over you, now that your grandma will be leaving.”
I stared at Shay in disbelief. “You’re my guardian angel? Wow, for some reason, I always thought of a guardian angel as a beautiful woman. One that had white wings and played the harp.”
Shay grunted. “That’s ridiculous. You better grab some coffee, Kevin. You and I have a lot of talking to do, and a lot of stereotypes to crush, before I can even think about watching over you.”
Standing, I laughed, as I walked to get my coffee. I knew my grandma was dying, but she would be happy returning to the love of her life. And now, I knew that Shay would be here to not only watch over me, but to help me to understand the things I didn’t right now. What could be more exciting than that? It was all beyond my wildest dreams.
Beyond Dreams(P.S. Winn)
Some of my friends, think I am strange. I keep this dream catcher hanging above the headboard of my bed. Maybe my friends feel that way, because I am a male.
A lot of people think the dream catchers, are more for females to enjoy.
That is so wrong, for so many reasons. It isn’t relevant to my story, but something to think on, none-the-less. So many things in this world, are looked at from that type of screwed up perspective.
Actually, my grandmother’s friend made the dreamcatcher. Shay Rising Star was an amazing person. He was Native American, and left this world a few years ago. I treasure the dream catcher Shay gifted to me. It was one of the many treasures Shay shared. Most of the special things, he gave to others, were in the form of his special knowledge. Shay had a connection to this earth, to the stars, and to other galaxies. I miss him, so much. I know my grandmother, Rose, does as well. She lost my grandfather five years ago, so when Shay died, it was a terrible blow. I try to keep close contact with grandma, and hope that helps to comfort her. Grandma and I are close, but even she never knew this tale, I am about to share.
The whole thing began just after my twenty-first birthday. I live in an apartment, just a few blocks from my grandma’s house. I had only been asleep for a few minutes when I heard what I thought was the wind.
Sitting up in my bed, I could feel the light touch of the feathers on my dreamcatcher, touching my hair. Reaching up, I brushed away the feathers.
When I did, something felt different. The feathers were larger, heavier than before. I turned my head toward the window, thinking I had left it open, and the wind was the culprit behind the noise, and the feeling of the feathers.
I blinked several times, trying to see better in the bedroom, lit only by the moonlight that came in through the, what I now saw were, closed windows.
I realized that although the moon’s beams shone in the room, no wind could come through.
As I stared toward the window, the feel of the feathers again touched the top of my head. Reaching up a hand, I began to brush at the feathers, but my motion was stopped.
A hand touched my own. I almost screamed, but when my mouth opened, the ability to make noise, seemed to be stripped away by my fear. I had heard the term scared speechless before, but didn’t think it was a real occurrence. Now, I knew, and didn’t like the feeling.
I slid away from the hand that was touching me. Finally, I disentangled myself from the bedding and stood up. I was breathing hard. I tried to focus, and slow my breaths down to a more normal speed. I relaxed slightly, and looked across the bed.
I stared in amazement. Standing, staring back, was Shay Rising Star. He laughed at the look on my face.
“Having a bad dream, Kevin?”
I slowly shook my head. “Maybe not a bad dream, but I think I might be hallucinating.”
Shay laughed. The sound was one I remembered well. I felt I was looking at an angel, and thought it was strange Shay’s voice didn’t sound more angelic. Or what I thought an angelic voice might sound like. Saying that, I feel as ignorant as people who don’t think a man should have a dream catcher over his bed. I decided I could deal with that enigma later.
The laugh faded, but the grin stayed on Shay’s face. “You’re not hallucinating. Unless you’re seeing someone here besides me.”
I laughed. “Just you, so I’m okay, I guess.”
I frowned. Why are you here, Shay? You’ve been gone for a couple of years, so why appear now?”
I asked the question, unsure if I really wanted to hear the answer.
When Shay spoke, I knew the words were some I didn’t want to hear, but knew I had to listen, anyway.
“I’m here for your grandmother. Rose is going to be having a heart attack in less than two hours. I wanted to see you first. I know how devastated you will be. I can’t allow you to go down the depression rabbit hole.”
I stared at Shay, finding it hard to breathe. I knew he was telling me the truth. I didn’t have a problem, nor think I was crazy, knowing I was talking to an angel. I did have a problem thinking my grandmother was dying, and in a few hours.
I looked over at the clock on my bedside table. The luminous digital numbers let me know it was ten minutes after one. I needed to be with my grandma, but couldn’t run to her house at one A.M., bang on her door, and try to explain why I was doing it. I stared at Shay.
“What are you talking about. I need to be with grandma, how in the hell do I do that? You want me to bang on her door, and yell let me in, you’re dying soon? Shay, why did you even come here? You know I can’t scare her like that.”
Shay nodded. “That’s exactly why I am here, Kevin. You can’t go over to your grandma’s place. I know by morning, when you learned of her death, if I didn’t share this with you, the guilt would devastate you. That’s why I have broken through the veil to come here. You are the one who needs my help, not her. I am here for you, Kevin.”
Frowning, I glanced over at the dreamcatcher on the wall. Maybe I was dreaming, and the horrible nightmare I was having had somehow escaped being caught in the wall hanging. I moved from the bed, and grabbed my jeans. Slipping them on, I wondered if the t-shirt I had worn to bed was enough to wear. Right now, I really didn’t care.
Shay frowned. “What are you doing Kevin? You don’t need to get dressed right now.”
I sighed. “I just need to be doing something. I can’t believe this is happening.”
I stared at him. “Maybe you got your information wrong, and grandma will be fine.”
Shaking his head, Shay frowned. “No Kevin, I got this right. Why don’t we go out into your kitchen? I think you should sit down.”
I sighed. “That’s a good idea. I’ll put on the coffee.”
The two of us made our way into the kitchen, and I started the coffee brewing. While I waited, I sat down. “When can I go to grandma’s?”
A shrug, was followed by a slight grin. “I don’t think you should go over there for a while. Think about it, what time do you usually go to her house?”
I also shrugged. “Usually just before I go to work, maybe seven or so.”
Shay nodded. “Then that’s when you should go. By then, Rose will have left her body. I know your grandpa is waiting, as we sit here, for Rose to join him.”
That thought made me stop my prior thinking. I could almost see the two of them reuniting in death to continue the great love they had held in life. I felt guilty, thinking of my loss, instead of about the happiness the two would be experiencing. I stared at Shay. “That’s what death is really about, isn’t it Shay? Returning to the arms of our loved ones who left this world before us?”
Nodding, Shay smiled. “Now you are using that brain you were given. Yes, death is mourned by those left behind, but for those on the other side it is a celebration of renewed life. A lot of suffering could be ended if people would keep that thought in mind.”
I grinned. “Thanks Shay, thanks for helping me to realize that, and thanks for coming back to sit with me. It means a lot.”
Shay laughed. “You’ll be seeing more of me. I was given the job to guard over you, now that your grandma will be leaving.”
I stared at Shay in disbelief. “You’re my guardian angel? Wow, for some reason, I always thought of a guardian angel as a beautiful woman. One that had white wings and played the harp.”
Shay grunted. “That’s ridiculous. You better grab some coffee, Kevin. You and I have a lot of talking to do, and a lot of stereotypes to crush, before I can even think about watching over you.”
Standing, I laughed, as I walked to get my coffee. I knew my grandma was dying, but she would be happy returning to the love of her life. And now, I knew that Shay would be here to not only watch over me, but to help me to understand the things I didn’t right now. What could be more exciting than that? It was all beyond my wildest dreams.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
07/03/2023P.S. that was a beautiful story! It got me thinking about if I would want to know if a loved one was dying several hiurs before it happened! You story was written so sweetly and I loved the concept! A well-deserved short story star of the week!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shelly Garrod
04/17/2023Beautful story P.S. And oh so true. Losing a loved one is hard but we should be rejoicing for them.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
01/25/2023Very Interesting, and making Angels more...well, Human, adds to the story. And yes, if there is a next life, I hope it is a chance to grow even more loving and connected to those we loved and cherished on Earth. Good Story. Makes folks think a bit. And perhaps, ease the pain for some dealing with grief and loss.
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
P.S. Winn
01/25/2023Thanks, Kevin. Grief is such a burden. But if we knew what was coming, it wouldn't seem so beautiful. I have strong feelings that all will meet again on that beautiful, other side.
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