THE DREAM PART 1

DREAM

A series of thoughts, images or emotions that occurred during sleep, representing someone's unconscious desires and wishes.

"Crystal, your heart is too weak. You're lucky to be alive at your age. Most people with CHD lived up to eighteen only so I am hoping you could at least be careful next time." Dr. Helen Matthews scolded her.

She was her doctor ever since she was little. It was three months ago when Brad broke up with her. That day, she thought she was going to die, but Amanda found someone to help her. She woke up at the hospital two days after.

Seeing Brad with another woman, she felt like her world turned upside down. She asked her the reason for her betrayal, but all she got was a cold glance from him.

Amanda begged her to stop chasing Brad and continue her life without her. The first week was difficult. She cried and locked herself in her room, even her parents couldn't do anything about it.

Then she realized that she wouldn't allow Brad to be happy. He had no right to laugh and enjoy her life with another woman. She deserved to be happy and not him.

So she started to go out every night with Amanda and their friends.

"I wanted to have fun. I don't want to die miserable. I only have a year to live after all." She said, sadly.

A month ago, she was rushed to the hospital when she suddenly fainted. One of her friends asked her to go to the gym with her so they could work out together. She agreed.

But she suddenly felt a burning pressure from her chest, felt nauseous and fell unconscious. When she woke up, she was already at the hospital.

She underwent a series of tests and found out that she only got a year to live. She felt her whole world crumbled, her dreams were crushed and her future was ruined.

After knowing that she was about to die soon, she wanted to enjoy her remaining life by doing everything she could possibly imagine.

"I know that but if you're so reckless, that one year could be reduced. Your parents entrusted you to me so please take care of yourself." The doctor pleaded.

Her parents went to Paris for a business trip. She was an only child so Dr. Matthews became her guardian and a mother-like figure to her since she was also her mom's friend.

"Fine. Fine. I won't drink anymore but I could still have some fun with my friends right?" She grinned.

The doctor smiled while shaking her head. She wrote down a prescription and handed it to her.

"Don't even miss a day without taking your meds or else I will have to tie you in a hospital bed."

She was supposed to be in the hospital, resting. She was not allowed to go out and have fun but she signed a waiver declining a continuous treatment inside the hospital.

She took the prescription paper and winked at her doctor. Giving her a sarcastic smile, she stood up and left the clinic.

Walking out of the hospital was even exhausting for her. She noticed some gazes from the women in the receiving area. Eyes that show sympathy, confusion and mockery.

When she was a kid, she was bullied by her classmates for being weak. She never joined any sports and was always alone. The girls in her class thought she was making it up and that her parents paid the school so she would be exempted for some activities. She never had any friends until high school.

During her college days, she became popular because her family's business grew and they became the most powerful and wealthiest clan in the country. The girls suddenly wanted to be her friend and the boys tried to pursue her. But she knew they were all fake.

Because of her condition, she always questioned life and wanted to blame someone. She tried to live a normal life but she couldn't. She was always afraid that her heart might suddenly stop beating. She was afraid to die. Until she met Brad.

He gave her hope and a desire to live. He was the only man who genuinely liked her. She felt like living in a fairy tale when Brad asked her hand in marriage. Before she said yes, they talked about her illness and he assured her that everything would be fine. She would have accepted Brad's reason for leaving her if it's about her illness, but being cheated by him was too much for her heart to handle.

She continued to walk towards the exit and felt a sudden pain in her chest.

'What the hell? I just walked a few steps and felt like my heart was tearing apart.' She thought inwardly.

She straightened her body and rushed into the parking lot. She went inside her car and rested her head. She was panting and her breathing was irregular.

'Am I going to die right now? Ah shit. If only someone could save me from this misery. I will do everything in exchange for a normal life, even if it's just for a while. I could even make a deal with the devil.' She talked continuously in her mind.

She knew she died. She felt her heart stop beating and everything turned to black. Expecting to see nothing but darkness, she slightly opened her eyes.

A feeling of comfort, and the smell of vanilla lingered around where she was. She felt the softness on her back, and the warmth of the blanket covering her body. She already knew that she was in a bedroom.

"Why am I still alive? And where am I?" She asked, looking around the place.

"You're in my house."

It was a man's voice, but because of the darkness invading the other side of the room, she couldn't see who it was.

"I died. My heart stopped beating. How am I alive?" She asked again.

"I saved you. It was forbidden, but I had to."

The shadow shown by the moonlight confirmed that the voice was coming from the couch just a few steps away from the bed.

"You saved me? How?"

The figure stood up and slowly walked toward the light. Her eyes bawled seeing a hooded black skeleton holding a scythe in front of her.

"Y-You're the grim reaper!" She exclaimed.

"So you know about me. I am Erebus, son of the Goddess of Death Mist, Achlys. I am here to collect your soul."