4 The Dream and the Dream

Faith fell asleep on the couch and this time Guy did not visit her in person but in her dream. He was there to explain the deal to her in detail.

"Like I said before, the overseeing world gives you a second chance. We cannot avoid your death since that is already destined. What we can do is send you to another period in which your current self did not exist for the same amount of whole years you lived in this life. Even though you lived for eighteen years and a couple of months, only the whole years count and so you would be given exactly eighteen years to live from your date of arrival. Eighteen years down to the second of the day. I am explaining thoroughly because for this deal to be valid, the second party has to fully understand the deal. Can you confirm that you do understand?"

Faith in fact did understand him but was in a state of confusion because she was hoping for her life to be extended for the sake of her family and loved ones and not for her sake. She could imagine the heartbreak and pain her mother and siblings would go through because of her death and that tore her heart into two.

"I do understand but this is not what I expected. I expected to be able to live with my family longer but if I am going to be taken to a period of time that I did not exist in, I would still die on the 15th right? At least to my family."

"Yes you would. Sorry if this was not the deal you expected but you would die whether or not you accept it so I suggest you take the deal. You have a choice to either travel to the past or the future so think carefully."

It took a while for Faith to answer. The fact that she was still going to be separated from her family was something she was finding hard to accept.

"It has always been a dream of mine to witness my parents' love story. The fact that my mother was willing to leave a rich man for a poor man all because she loved him is very impressive. So I would like to go back in time enough to witness their love."

"Okay perfect. I will take you 18 years before your birth so you will witness that and a lot more. I will be here to pick you up on the 15th. See you then and I know it is hard but enjoy your last couple of days with your family."

"Before you go, I have one quick question. How are you able to take people to time periods that have already passed or that are yet to happen. It just does not make sense."

"Ugh. The human mentality is so limited! To mortals, time exists like a line. Even though you cannot see the start and the end of that line. You think you are at one point on the line and yesterday you were at a point to the left and tomorrow you will be at a point to the right. But that is not how time works. Time exists in a circle. All points of time happening simultaneously. The journey we will be taking on the 15th is already happening but at a different point. The meeting we had at the hospital did not already happen but is happening right now at a different point in the circle. Everything is simultaneous. So my job is to take you from one point to another. Anyway let's not give your little human mind a headache. Get some rest because you have an important journey ahead of you.

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Faith was insistent on going back home immediately to be with the rest of the family that Sandra had to contact Jamie again to sponsor their return ticket to the Salem continent and Cher. It was the night of the 13th when they finally got home. At the request of Faith, the whole family spent the night in Faith's parents room. Faith's parents, half-siblings, and Max's children and wife occupied the queen bed and the quilt-covered floor of the bedroom. Everyone tried to please Faith and even her parents who were mad at each other were tolerant of the other for the sake of Faith. The following day, the family was the closest they had ever been. However, Faith was constantly breaking down into tears which made the others worry a lot.

On the 15th, Faith woke up in her own bed knowing it was her last day and she resolved to live it like any other day. She barged into Michael's room. "Happy Birthday 20-something year old!" She never bothered to remember her siblings ages. She jumped on him and pulled the bedsheet off of him. "Make me some eggs."

"That is a lot of energy, seems like you are already feeling better and on your way to a full recovery. These doctors never know what they are talking about. Even though I hate it when you order me around and hate it more today because it is my birthday, it is great to see you active so let's make those eggs!"

Little did Michael know that Faith just wanted to have his eggs for the last time and little did he know it was going to be the last time he woke up happy on his birthday. Every other year, it would remind him of his sister's death.

Faith suggested that the family play a game of Monopoly or Uno. So they settled on Monopoly. As Mariah apologized for buying a land that Faith had eyes on, Faith smiled broadly as she thought to herself:

"Of all the times I was asked what I would do if I had one day to live, the last thing on my mind was playing a game of Monopoly."

"Why is she she smiling like a fool? I just took the land she wanted." Mariah exclaimed in surprise.

The game ended fast when Faith started to clutch her chest and groan uncomfortably.

"We need to drive her to the hospital fast. Grab the car keys someone," Max shouted.

"I took the car to the mechanic. Shouldn't we call 111 instead even if we had the car?" 'Faith's dad replied.

Sandra was already on the phone with the medics but had difficulty pulling her words from her tears. Mariah and Michael tried to explain what was going on to the person on the phone.

Amidst all this chaos, Faith collapsed to the floor as the chaotic voices of her family got more and more distant.

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Faith came around. She was in a hospital bed surrounded by her family and two close friends from the same neighbourhood. Everyone was crying. Her face was covered in something. She guessed it was what was keeping her breathing. She could hear some beeping on a machine nearby and she knew it was time.

"Faith you woke up?" Mariah said. Tears cascaded down her cheeks just like her parents and the rest of her siblings.

There was a moment of a chaotic express of love and regret. Faith could barely make out any words amidst all the crying.

"They're just trying to say their last goodbyes. At least give them a smile, it is a difficult moment for all of them," Guy said as he made himself visible to Faith.

Faith tried her best to wear a smile.

"I know it is a very sad moment for you right now but we would be on our journey soon. You will get to witness your parents' love story soon though not immediately. After all, we are going back eighteen years before your birth. You have less than ten seconds." He said the last sentence in a soft voice.

Faith looked at her mother. A tear escaped from the clutch of her emotions to accompany her last breath.