It Happened Last Night

I remember it as if it really did happen. After all, it was just another one of my dreams, but the interesting part was that no matter how many times I woke up from tossing and turning, I would fall back asleep and pick up where I left off.

The same place: a Paseo lined with rustic, orange-colored cobblestones that curled and connected to a variety of shops and cafes. A large fountain at the center bathed a statue of two cupids sitting on a cloud. One holding a bow and arrow and the other, a heart, eager to be its next target. Coins glistened at the bottom of the water.

"Wishes still waiting to be granted," I thought to myself.

I walked passed it. Letting the sun hit my face and feeling the warmth of its energy as I made my way through the crowd. I thought I saw my parents up ahead so I picked up the pace to catch up, suddenly realizing that they were walking towards me.

My mom was dressed in a pale, peach top and matching long skirt. Her black, high-heels clanked against the pathway with each step she made. My dad was not too far behind, wearing gray slacks and a long-sleeve, collared-shirt. As they approached the fountain, I knew something was very odd. My mom's hair was long and extremely curly with high bangs pinned half-way back. Not her usual cropped do that I'm used to seeing.

"Wow, that grew fast," I thought.

But then I saw my dad with a head full of hair that almost covered his eyes.

I gasped.

They were my parents alright, but a whole 20-years younger!

I rubbed my eyes in disbelief. There I was, a full grown adult, standing next to my parents of the same age.

A little girl with layers of thin black hair was holding my mom's hand. She was wearing a white, cotton dress and sandals. She looked up at me and smiled before running off into my dad's arms. He picked her up and placed her onto his shoulders. They continued passed me, down the walkway blending in with the sunlight and the crowd until I couldn't see them anymore.

I turned back around and took a few steps in the other direction when my sisters came up to me. It was a relief to see them at the age they are now.

"Hey Bub, where were you?" the youngest one asked as she pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail.

"We want to get some coffee and maybe a pastry or two," the oldest said, looking around with her hand over her eyes to block the sun.

"Oh, just walking around," I answered. "Gotta wash my hands first though..." I said as if what just happened never happened at all. "Where's the bathroom?" I asked.

"Oh geez...you know where it is," the youngest said rolling her eyes.

"But we don't go to that nasty one remember? They created a bigger, family bathroom. It's much prettier," the eldest continued.

As they both discussed their love for its interior design filled with comfy couches and decorative counter tops and tables, I found myself already there! And it was magnificent. Soft lighting, lovely paintings on the walls...I mean, for a bathroom it was a little over the top, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

Then suddenly an even stranger thing happened.

As I was washing my hands, a little boy probably about 7 or 8 years old, tugged at the edge of my shirt. I turned to face him. He had curly hair and almond-colored skin. He was wearing a red shirt and dark denim pants.

"Hey, almost done? Dad's waiting for you outside and told me to tell you to hurry please..." he said with a smile.

"Oops, kid made a mistake," I thought.

"Finish up. We'll meet you outside. K, mom?" he said as he ran out the door.

"What...what did he just call me..." I said to myself as I made my way to one of the couches, leaving the water running and my hands full of soapy bubbles.

Kids started to pour in with their moms or dads. Some even stared at me as they made their way to the sink.

After what felt like years, I finally got up and washed the dried soap off my hands and made my wait to the exit.

The little boy was standing next to an older boy with a buzzed cut.

"About time," they both said in unison. "Dad's in the sporting goods store like always," the eldest continued, pointing over to the right. "You coming inside?" he asked.

I suddenly realized that this was my life. My past, my present and my future. The fountain separated each time zone and as I made my way around it, I entered into a new world where everyone changed around me, yet somehow I managed to stay the same.

The question was, "Which direction was I going to take next?"

And even though I knew it was all in my head, I reacted as if it were the real thing. And I held onto those moments knowing that soon I would wake up for good.