Deviser of Dreams

Chapter 2

I woke up at dawn, when I heard the alarm on my cellphone. It smelled of dry hay and wild flowers. It was warm. I opened up my eyes, still sleepy. In front of me was a basket full of blackberries, raspberries and fresh cranberries. It was woven from green branches and leaves. I didn't touch it.

I looked around and I noticed that I was in the deer shelter. But how was that possible? I clearly remember the cliffs and the cave. Was it only in my imagination? My clothes were clean and full of mud as expected. Maybe it was a dream after all. I was alone there. I was feeling good, everything was alright. The only thing that was missing was one of my bracelets. But I still couldn't believe that I was there. Last night I could've sworn that I was not even close to the shelter, but more to the edge of the forest. I had goosebumps just thinking of something like that.

I wasn't planning to stay there any more, so I ran home. I felt weird. I looked for some cliffs though. It was nothing there. It was six in the morning, and I was hoping that my parents weren't awake yet. I had to prepare myself for a few hours' quarrel. After last night's storm, the air was cold and the earth damp, but there were no puddles. I had so many questions in my mind, that I hardly observed that I was almost at home.

I quickly jumped the gate and slipped quietly into my room. It was silence. I had time to take a shower and to eat something before my parents woke up. To my surprise, they were already dressed and full of energy. They have even finished packing.

"Where are you going?" I asked them.

"Yesterday, your father's sister came to visit," answered mom. "She wanted to see us all. You know how rare she gets here by. Her son is here too."

"They slept over?"

"Yes. But where were you? Last night I came late from work, and when I arrived, your father was chatting with her. You were so tired indeed that you couldn't even come to say hello?"

So, mom had no idea that I wasn't home last night. I could've let it go if my father didn't know either. I really was thankful for that, or else they would've gone mad because of useless worries, and they had plenty of that already.

''I was very tired, so I went to bed early. But dad...''

''Your father worked all day yesterday at the new house in the valley. He finished installing the electricity and other things. He finished half an hour before the storm started, then he went home. In less than an hour later, his sister came and woke him up.''

Her answer calmed me somehow, especially when there was no need to put her certain questions and raise her suspicions. She was in a good mood that morning and I didn't want to ruin it for the world.

''Oh, but you still didn't tell me where you are going.''

''On an excursion, my dear. It has been ages since your father and I went somewhere. We're going to your brother, in Germany. Your aunt will lead us to the airport.''

''You leave so soon? I come too?''

''You know that you can't let your grandmother alone. From time to time, you must go to her. She made a lot of cookies and tea. I already told her that you'd make her a visit.''

''Fine,'' I said, throwing my hands in the air with a theatrical gesture. ''I'll stay with grandma while you two take a walk. For how long?''

''I have vacation 'till September, so I'll be missing a while. I made a route that I strongly intend to follow. I'll search for some cute souvenirs for you.''

''Yes. Anyway, meanwhile, I'll be helping your brother with the wedding. He marries in autumn, so I want everything to be just like he wants, maybe even better. There are plenty of preparations and decisions to make, but I can't wait to deal with them. Can you believe that your brother got married?''

''Marriage? How come I know nothing about that?''

''I didn't know either. He announced me yesterday out of the blue. I told him that we were coming, so he waited for us. I'm over the moon. Frankly, I always thought that you, being the older sister, would get married before him. My dear, I have to go. Your aunt is so impatient.''

''Okay, mom. You have everything you need in you?''

Mom looks in a hurry at her bag, then she runs to her room.

''Oh my! I was going without plane tickets.''

From outside, many voices were resonating. I got out and in a few seconds, I saw my aunt, we embraced each other, we politely said the right formulas, then we said goodbye. I don't think she was pleased to see me. If she came on any other day, it would still've been hard for me to have a proper conversation with her or her son. She didn't care either, so it was better for me to pretend that I'm more timid than in general, and encourage her to talk to my parents, in which my role was to mime a great interest and not to fall asleep. It all happened at a high speed, that I didn't even have time to be overwhelmed by feelings. After they were gone, I came back in the kitchen with my sandwiches. When was the last time I went on an excursion with my family? I think for ages. I was still recalling those places, although some things were unclear or faded in the mists of my memories. At least, I could fully enjoy my freedom and I could've done everything I liked. In three months, maybe I succeeded in painting the walls in my chamber. What a clever idea!

But I was not in the mood to do those things. I was a little depressed and lazy, so I went to my grandma's. I didn't want her to expect me too much. She was really glad to see me anytime. Her house was a few streets away from ours. I made that walk in less than ten minutes. She was really happy to see me.

''My dear, you arrived!'' said grandma with a big, sincere smile.

She put me in an armchair and then she put a mountain of cookies in front of me. She served me tea, then she came closer, sitting next to me. Despite her age, she still looked like a child. She was plump, with peachy cheeks and her green eyes were gleaming slyly.

''I told your mother to take you with her, but she is as stubborn as always.''

''I don't mind, granny. I don't think I could've stayed so long from home. Besides, you know I have motion sickness and I couldn't stand all the way throwing up. I would've been disgusting and not only for me.''

My grandma laughed, but a second later she became thoughtful.

''My dear,'' she started with a hesitant voice. ''Yesterday I called you and you didn't answer. I thought that you didn't have a signal because of the storm, so I called you again a few times. You still didn't answer. I am really worried now. I don't remember what the time was, but I called you once more. Then I heard the sound of the rain. It was deafening, like you were sitting outside, then I heard nothing. You... were home, right?''

I gulped and my hands started to shake. What the heck happened last night? It was really weird that I fell asleep so fast. I know I didn't have a signal, but something surely happened. I felt a headache and waves of blood rushing to my cheeks. But I didn't want to make her worry. I hoped that I succeeded in hiding my tremors on time.

''I didn't had signal. Grandma... is there any cave in our forest?''

She looked at me with curiosity, but didn't answer immediately. She stood pensively so long, that I thought she had forgotten my question.

''I never saw it, but I heard some stories about something like that.''

''Stories?! So exists?''

''I don't know. Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?''

''I'm curious.''

''When I was little, my great grandmother told all sorts of stories. She lived a long time. A hundred and eight years. All the women in our family have lived for more than a hundred years. My great grandmother told me about all sorts of fantastic creatures; dragons, fairies, vampires. But every time she started a story, it began with the entrance of the main character into a cave. Her hero always had superior qualities. I loved her stories. It was like she was sitting all day making up a story, but she made you feel inferior to those heroes.''

My grandma's room smelled of jasmine and basil. I finished my tea and I sighed.

''I have wandered through this forest since I was a little girl, but I never encountered a cave or heard about one. Where did you get this idea?''

''I think it was just a misinterpretation. I've read too many stories.''

I convinced myself, for my sanity, that nothing had happened. All was just a dream, so I could easily forget everything. Outside it was getting cloudy. I didn't want to experience a storm again which would make me hallucinate or give me other unusual moods, so I went home.