Hold Back The River

He settles in beside her and Andy immediately leans into him, nuzzling deeply into his fur as she listens to the rhythm of his voice and heart. Before the story even begins, the girl has slipped underneath the gauzy surface of sleep where her fever brings the story to life. Color burst into existence in front of eyes and the girl watches with childlike wonder as a dusty purple galaxy spins into existence against an inky backdrop. A song fills the air, its words unknown but its tune, timeless. Her view of the galaxy zooms in to a single star who slowly awakens as if from a deep slumber.

Zee, a teal and tan star, rubs her eyes as she rouses and she blinks her sky-blue eyes with curiosity at the song. Andy follows the star as she tries to find the source of the tune and her legs twitch minutely in the real world as she races along beside Zee. Finally, the pair find the source, the lavender galaxy admitting it was them along and Andy’s gazes watches the scene unfold as tears prick her eyes. Zee went home, knowing that she was no longer along with every song the galaxy sang to her. Her father’s voice falls away and, in its place, she hears her mother’s.

Her eyes sting as she looks around, knowing that she is dreaming but wishing it not to end. From the galaxy, her mother, Zee, emerges, healthy and whole and smiling warmly at her. Andy shifts in her sleep, bumping against her father as she whines softly because, in her dream, her mother reaches out for her. The girl rushes forward, allowing the figment of her imagination to take hold of her and wipe away her tears. Zee echoes the sentiment of the story, letting her know that she is not alone. The girl stays in those safe arms for some time, her body stilling as rest slowly drags her under.

As the dream slowly fades away, the voice of her mother once again tickles her ear, saying, “You all carry my love with you. I am never far away.” A sigh rolls past her lips as Andy slowly climbs through the cobwebs of her mind, her gummy eyelids slowly blinking open as she tries to determine where she is. All that she can say for certain is that time has passed. How much has, she has no clue.


"Andromeda Fatalis"