The Last Dream Catcher

Chapter 1

“Any plans for the summer?” Paulo ran a hand through his scorching red hair, which sometimes reminds Alice of the sunset in Saskatchewan – the last golden rays before the sun falls asleep.

“We’re visiting my relatives in Regina!” Aria’s face glowed, accentuating the little dimples in her cheeks. “I’m sure they’d be surprised to know that I was able to finish high school!” Paulo burst out laughing. He suddenly remembered how often they cut classes together and how hard they tried not to get caught all the time. Luckily, they still managed to graduate despite their silliness. 

The three of them couldn't help but smile as they walk leisurely towards the parking lot of their school. Now that they were able to finish another chapter of their lives, who would even know what lies ahead for them?  

“How about you Alice?” Paulo asked while his finger played lazily with the little curls at the end of Alice’s hair as if he was enjoying its reflection of beach waves.  

Alice had a faint curve in her lips. “I’m probably staying in the village again.”

They stopped walking, in time for Alice and Paulo to ride their bicycles. It was then when the red Mazda that was parked not too far from them started honking.  

“Cut the crap!” Paulo shouted back furiously and Aria slapped his arm in a snap. “What?” Alice couldn’t help but laugh, knowing how often Aria tends to slap Paulo on impulse. She would definitely miss this moment the most.

“That’s my mom! How many times should I tell you?” Aria rolled her eyes and faced Alice with a bright smile. “Why don’t you just come with us? It would be fun! We can roam around the city together!”

“Thanks, Aria, but I’ve already promised Mrs. Amelia that I’d work for her this summer,” Alice explained. She suddenly felt guilty that the mere thought of working at The Happy Nun Café excites her and yet, her friends looked so worried for her. 

Paulo scratched his head anxiously. “Well, I’d be staying in the city as well. I don’t want to go but my parents used my graduation gift to threaten me to come.”

“Don’t worry guys. I’ll be fine I promise,” Alice assured them. Although she always looks cheerful and contented, Aria and Paulo knew her too well. 

“Okay... Just call us if you need anything or even if you just feel like it,” Paulo paused and breathe heavily as if he was finding the right words to say.  “You know we’ll always be here for you right?” Just like Aria, his pale eyes showed concern. 

“Of course,” Alice simply said before she hugged them both. "Make sure to enjoy the summer with your families," She added although it was almost a whisper.

Despite being the kind of person who loves looking at the brighter side of things, Aria and Paulo couldn't help but worry about Alice. They knew she would be working hard again this summer instead of having fun like those of her age. 

Paulo was about to say something when they heard another honking.  “I swear that car’s going crazy!” He screamed like a psychopath and the two girls just laughed in harmony.

***

Nothing much has changed in their house – perhaps Alice’s years of hard work paid off.

Living with her mother and grandmother, their family chose to have a simple life in their small two-story house far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Picturesquely situated at the heart of Forget (pronounced as for-jay), their village, the house was made of red bricks and has folk Victorian flair. It simply looked like one of those old country houses in Canada.

Although it was not her ideal house, Alice knew she wouldn’t trade it for the world. All her good memories were attached to it and she was afraid to forget them.

Even though it was hard for her to keep and maintain their house like it used to be, she was able to make it happen. Apart from preserving its cleanliness, the wild yellow lilies that her mother adores continued to bloom in their white porch, the wooden floorboards and the rest of their furniture were also still in good condition. Instead of replacement, she often relies on repairs so as not to change anything drastically. As a consequence, their house looked antique compared to others.

Upon the white walls were the abstract paintings of her mother arranged from the oldest to the most recent. Her mother loves to paint so much and her favorite subject is her dreams. Alice used to watch her paint for several hours as if she was in her own little world.

“Sometimes dreams are better than reality,” Alice could vividly remember these words from her mother.

So even though she could not fully understand her mother’s works, she always appreciates their unique beauty. It was after every ten years that her mother chooses her best painting, hanging it on the wall.

Alice went home right after their graduation. She closed the door behind her as she looked around their house with its emptiness greeting her. Yes, everything looked pretty much like it used to be, but it wouldn’t change the fact that the house would never be the same again.  

Holding her medal close to her chest, Alice walked up the stairs and went straight to her room. She locked herself inside and laid down in bed just like any other day.

Above her head, Alice could still see the dream catcher that was given to her by her grandmother the night she lost her mother. It was only then when her first tear broke free while the rest followed in a steady stream.

Alice was only ten years old when her mother passed away in her sleep. Most people she knew said her mother was fortunate that she died in a peaceful way, unlike others who needed to continue life while suffering from a fatal disease. They even named it a “painless death” even though they have no idea what her mother really felt when it happened.

Her mother’s death came as a surprise for Alice and her grandmother. But both of them needed to be strong for each other and to continue living. Left with her grandmother, she was raised like her own child. She never felt alone, not even once.

Unfortunately, death is always bound to happen at some point in their lives. Her grandmother died of old age when she was only 15 years old. But she was able to prepare everything – from the bank accounts to Alice’s education, including the people who would look over her. And even though it has been two years since it happened, Alice knew that the pain will always be there.  

Alice couldn’t help but stare at the dream catcher above her head as tears trickled down the corners of her eyes. Being alone made her tough, but being vulnerable remains inevitable – knowing that even if she wanted to, she can never bring back the past.

***

Alice saw a group of men engaging in a conversation in front of their porch. They were laughing so loud and were even throwing cigarette butts as if they own the place. It was the first time that she had seen such an incident, but she couldn’t even be bothered to move an inch from where she was.

She could see everything clearly but she felt so empty that her body wouldn’t even budge.

In a blink of an eye, she found herself sitting on a park bench next. Not too far from her, there were a bunch of kids playing freely without an adult’s supervision. And just before they started playing Hide and Seek, a little girl with two pigtails walked towards her and held her hand.

“Let’s play together! It would be fun!” The little girl tried to convince her, but she just smiled weakly in return. It served as an indication that she had turned down her request because even the word fun brings her sadness.

From that moment on, Alice noticed how her surrounding started changing repeatedly as if someone was trying to pull a trick on her or perhaps trying to put her in a perfect scenario. And these experiences were already enough clues for her to understand the situation.

She finally fell asleep and was already dreaming.                   

Whenever Alice is in her dreams, she always had to figure out if she’s really dreaming or not. This is because all of her dreams seemed to happen in real life. It was as if she was only being transported in another world where things she knew exist and where everything is possible.

At that moment, all she wanted was to show her medal to her family – to see their proud faces.

The next thing she knew, she was already back in their living room. She was standing in front of their couch, holding her medal.

Her grip tightened when for the first time, after many years, she saw her mother and grandmother together. Much to her surprise, they were sitting on their couch, enjoying a peaceful afternoon as if they were never gone.

Alice burst into tears. The void inside her was suddenly filled with sadness and longing for her family. Knowing how this moment was already fleeting, she raised her medal into the air proudly. Her mother and grandmother both looked at her with a genuine smile. She knew it was only a dream but it was enough reward for her.

Unlike before, she can control her own body in her dreams. It started when her mother died and it became more powerful as time passes by.  

So although she was already happy seeing them so proud of her achievement, she tried her luck and approached them both. She wanted to hug them even for just a few seconds. She wanted to feel their presence even though she knew she was only dreaming. 

Sometimes dreams are better than reality

Alice thought it was possible for her to be a little bit ambitious, but perhaps it was only her wishful thinking. 

Right before her eyes, she saw the image of her mother and grandmother slowly vanished.

Her heart sank as she tried calling them. She shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping to stop the misfortune that was about to befall them.

And as she struggled to break free from the illusion, she heard a man’s deep voice once again.

“You did great, child.”

It was then when she woke up gasping for air.