Epilogue

He woke up in a stupor, confused at the images that he had witnessed beforehand. "What a strange dream," he said to himself.

After rubbing his temples, he put on his tunic and went over to the well. Pulling out the bucket full of water, he splashed himself with cool water before being grabbed from behind. "Lucille," he said as the young girl backed away, laughing and giggling. He too laughed at the girls' antics as he said, "Always the troublemaker."

"I couldn't resist, oh Johansen," she replied.

"That is always your excuse. You are too excited."

"But this time I am very excited to go to the market."

"Yes, we will go there as soon as I prepare myself."

And so he eventually got ready and took her to the marketplace. During their visit, he spoke, "I had a rather strange dream the other night."

"Do tell, what is it?" Lucille said excitedly.

"I dreamed that I was me and you were you but we were not here in the present, but somewhere out far in what could be described as another world, but one so familiar to us."

"Another world?"

"I could not describe it even if I could. We both lived in a strange place where buildings were higher than mountains, the people wore clothing that was very unlike ours, and the roads were filled with strange contraptions that rode on without horses pulling them."

"What a strange dream you had. But you said we were in this dream?"

"Yes. I was a handsome youth and you were a pretty girl, of course, and we fell in love but could not be together. I could not understand why for I was such a coward, a meek creature that would not stand up for himself, just did as all the others did like a serf. And you were withholding yourself because your parents were separate and were going through a divorce, and would not dare speak up and cried so much."

"Oh, Johansen, I do not like this dream. It is dreadful."

"But do not fear for it was not all woe. In the end, I saw the error of my ways and came running to you and finally declared my love for you. We were merry once again, only to meet tragedy as no sooner, we were destroyed by strangers in the dark. But our spirits flew into Heaven and we continued to love each other for all eternity."

Lucille clapped. "That is the story ending I do love."

"Yes, but I do not wish to dream such a dream evermore. The people in my dream were horrible, even worse than the fools who run around among us here in this marketplace. There were bumpkins going around, with wild colored hair, and their girth was most offensive for your eyes to behold. They spewed lies and deceit under the guise of wisdom and prophecy. They proclaimed justice while performing crimes. They claimed to love while hating their neighbor. I even witnessed men kissing other men, a most foul and horrendous act that I do wonder how I even conjured such an image."

"That is most awful. Do not dream such a dream again."

"I will pray that such a vision will never come to pass. Let us be thankful we live happily and merry. Mere peasants we are, at the very least we have each other and nothing will part us."

Lucille could only reply with a smile as she got close to Johansen's bosom as they strolled down the marketplace and continued their shopping.