“What are you gonna do if I don’t? Go out and walk all the way home?” I glance at her briefly and scoff. Oh, I know this game. Like any woman throwing a tantrum – she’s gonna get out and walk for a few minutes and expect me to follow her with the car, groveling like an idiot for her to come back. Oh ha-ha, yeah right Maxine.

“You could say that.” She answers me with an eyeroll. I see right through you, I give her a mocking laugh. “But instead of just walking home, I’m going to walk out of your life for good.” She finishes. I choke on my own laughter. Damn, she floored me on that one. Against my better judgment, I change lanes and pull up at the side of the highway. As I press the hazard button and pull up the handbrake, I keep my gaze straight – towards the road and away from the demanding woman beside me.

“So, are you gonna do it or not?” She crosses her arms and looks at me expectantly. I could feel – and see from the rear-view mirror – that I was sweating bullets. Shit, what the heck did I get myself into?

“Do what?” I ask her.

“You know what I want you to do.”

“I do?”

“Yes. So, are you gonna do it or not?”

Melvin woke up with a start, disoriented and confused. Where am I? He asked himself, his mind still hazy from the dream, which to his disappointment, had been cut short. Once again, it revolved around Maxine. This time, the dream was about the events that happened after their first major fight – when he inadvertently offended his future wife in front of his snotty friends. What on earth could Maxine be possibly telling him right now? He questioned the heavens. With tired, half-opened lids, his eyes traveled around the space to study his surroundings. A groan made its way out of his throat. He was in a hospital. Wonder how I ended up here? He asked himself sarcastically as his chest ached in protest. The room was huge, but it was made bigger by the fact that he was all alone. His only company was the rhythmic beeping of the machine beside his bed. A strong pang of loneliness engulfed him. At least it wasn’t totally silent.

How did the dream end? He asked himself again.

Oh. Of course. His eyes fluttered open as the memory flooded his weary brain. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Maxine was right. He knew what to do.

Mustering up enough strength, he peered down and gazed at the object that was placed inside his right hand. Using his thumb, he pressed the red button a few times, silently hoping that it was for the right thing. Good, it’s not the morphine drip, he sighed in relief when sleep did not overcome him. He smiled as he heard footsteps heading his way. He pressed the right button after all. Within a few seconds, the door to his room opened and in came a nurse followed closely by two suit-clad persons. Just what he needed.

“Joyce.” He addressed his faithful assistant in a voice that betrayed his fatigue. His mouth was so dry, his voice was raspy and weak. Joyce was at his bedside in an instant, ready to do his bidding. Melvin cleared his throat and swallowed hard.

How did the dream end?

He knew all along.

All he had to do was remember.

And he did.

“I want to see my daughter.”

—

End of Part One. Part Two coming soon (very soon ^_^).