Dreams

'I had the craziest dream' was more like a way of consoling himself. Deep down he knew it was not a dream but he really wanted to believe it was just one horrible nightmare, he wished that as he woke up, everything would be back to normal.

"I dreamt that we were attacked by a gooish demon, and emmm... You huh.....,he was taking deep shaky breaths as he spoke, tears rolled down his cheek but he wiped it off immediately... You huh, came to save me, you and chinju and chinju killed the demon, and then..., then..., then.., he just could not bring himself to complete his so-called dream....., then grandma was gone. It's a crazy dream isn't it? He asks grinning but tears were trailing down his cheek at the same time.

"Hey boy, I know how you are feeling right now but you have to stay strong, that is what your grandmother would want" Old man says.. Jato did not say anything he sniffed in the fluid that was coming out of his nose, took a deep breath, stood up and was walking to grandma's room.

"Jato no, it will only make you hurt more" Zairo said, trying really hard to stop him but he couldn't. He signaled Old man for help but he says "Let him go, it's the only way he would come to accept what has happened".....Zairo still thinks they should stop him, but he listens to Old Man and follows behind Jato instead.

He opens the door, it still stunk but Jato could not smell anything right now, the place was still covered in goo and the torn cocoons were still on the bed. He musters courage and steps into the room, he slowly walks over to the bed, Zairo just waited for him outside the door. He looks into the cocoon, deeps his hands in it, running his hand through the goo...

"Grandma, this people think that you are gone, but I know you are in there, so come out so they will see.... He was already crying uncontrollably, and so was Zairo...

" Grandma hurry up and come out, I have your bracelet with me, the one you said grandfather gave you. Don't you want it anymore??...you wouldn't even let me look at it but now I'm holding it, come and take it back, please COME AND TAKE IT BACK".. He shouts and finally breaks down, crying that it could not be true, that his grandma could not be gone, that she was all he had left, that he really needed her,.....he kept on crying and crying and Zairo stood there crying also for there was nothing more he could do.... And then he eventually slept of..

For the weeks that followed, they did not open the store, they were always in the house, and either sleeping or watching TV. No one even remembered Chicken Saturday. After that day, they never even spoke about the fact that Chinju had killed the demon. Jato had moved in with them, he slept in Old Man's room. Old man said he wanted to always keep an eye on him, so he wouldn't do anything stupid. He once saw Jato holding a knife in the kitchen and thought he was going to stab himself, but it turned out that he just wanted to cut an apple.

They all could barely eat anything. And maybe it was because of the incident, Zairo had been having nightmares about the day he lost his mother and friends. He once woke up screaming, and everyone ran to his room. That day he also slept in Old Man's room. On the other hand, Chinju would equally have nightmares of the demon she killed coming back to get her, with her running and running, only to end up falling down into a large drum of goo.

All three of the kids were a mess. Old Man knew he had to do something to shake the guilt from them. He knew Zairo felt guilty that he didn't go and check up on Jato sooner, and Jato felt guilty for being weak and not being able to protect his grandma, and Chinju felt guilty for killing a living being... He definitely had to help them get pass this stage.

That night, he called them all to the living room, they all sat down looking lifeless. Then he brought out an incense urn, put something inside and lit the incense. The smoke of the incense filled the living room. "Old Man what is this,.. What are.... Zairo could not finish his sentence before he drifted into sleep. And so did the others. Old Man who already covered his nose with a cloth was not affected by the smell of the incense.

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It was dark and smoky, Zairo could not see clearly, then from behind, a hand gripped his shoulder..... "MOM!!!...how are you here, I thought you were dead. I thought you were gone" he said as he hugged her tightly. "I have always been with you, you just didn't look hard enough. I am always here..... She points to his head,...and here.... She places a soft hand on his chest.

" Mom I have failed to protect the people I care about once again... I couldn't save you and now I failed to save grandma" Zairo said with his head down... "But you saved Jato didn't you?? Zairo, let me tell you something. You see, you can't always save everyone. So you should not beat yourself up for not saving me or grandma. Jato is safe thanks to you and I'm sure he doesn't blame you for her death....." but still I should have gone there earlier, I should've saved them both. I am so incompetent"..... He says crying.

She takes his face in her hands "my little baby is now grown up....she says with tears in her eyes...once you cared about nothing but chicken, but now you feel responsible for your friends. Losing someone can be very painful, and you have had to go through it over and over again. But that doesn't mean you should dwell on your loss. You should also think of the people you have now. The ones that are with you now, they need you...

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Somehow, Chinju was in her old house. She had left this place long ago after it burnt down. She lost her only family in that fire. She had lost her brother. She opened the door to the house, and there he was standing, with a smile on his face. Tears welled up in her eyes.. "brother, how are you here,.. I've missed you so much" she runs and hugs him. "I've missed you too.... Let me see how much you've grown since the last time I saw you.... He breaks the hug to look at her,... Wow you've grown taller... He says laughing.....your hair is longer, and you became even more beautiful. You obviously grew up well on your own....

Her complexion changed with those words. "I didn't grow up well. If I really grew up well, I wouldn't have killed someone... She says..... I lost all sense of reasoning and killed him.

" But you saved your friends life. I think it takes guts to save someone... "are you not disappointed in me?? She asked puzzled...." of course not,.. I am actually proud of you. If you hadn't done what you did, you friend could have lost his life. And that would have eaten you up even more.... You see in life, people have to make tough decisions and choosing to save your friends life by staining your hands with blood was a very tough decision "....

" It wasn't actually blood, it was goo...dirty stinking goo... She said and they both laughed.

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"Jato, come and sit down let's eat. I made squid soup that you like."..... It was grandma. But how, she was definitely gone. He knelt down in front of her "I'm sorry ma.., ma I'm really sorry... I was too lazy, and too weak to save you..., I caused your death, it is my fault. You raised and protected me all these years, and when I was supposed to protect you, I couldn't..... He was talking amidst sobs.

" come here...grandma said, patting the space next to her....he sits next to her and she hugs him.... Don't ever blame yourself for what happened... It was not your fault... If anything, the demon was to blame for my death not you. So don't ever blame yourself....

"but I can't help but feel guilty,.. I never got a chance to really take good care of you... I never got a chance to repay you for all you've done.... You've done so much for me....

" if you really want to repay me.., then live your life perfectly. Don't skip your meals, and never be a bully, always help those in need as much as you can. Take good care of yourself. That way I will be very happy here....

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Old man watched on as the three of them slept, sometimes they cried and sometimes they smiled, all the while sleeping.

"I hope this works"