Bad Dream 

Mr. Williams entered his house using his key, stepping in he looked for his son. Ian was lying on the sofa completely out. "Maybe he is asleep," thought Mr. Williams and walked over to get him up. He shook him a little only to receive a little moan like he was in pain.  

“what’s wrong Ian, are you hurt my boy?” he asked politely and caressed his forehead. Ian’s eyes snap open at his father’s voice. He stood up abruptly and looked around for Julian. Remembering the moments, he had with his neighbor and the make-out they had shared, Ian turned pink. He looked at his father and smiled nervously.

“What happened, are you in pain?” Mr. Williams asked again, trying to figure out his expressions.

“uhh….yeah I am okay dad,……. maybe a bad dream?” he said and tried to compose himself.

“well if it’s a bad dream, then it's gone don’t worry …yeah?” he said smiling at his son.

“yeah, thanks dad,” Ian said.

“come on, change your clothes and help me in the kitchen…we have to go to the hospital,” said Mr. Williams and walked over to the kitchen.

“why…what’s wrong? Is mom okay?” there was a visible concern on his face that caught the attention of his dad.

“oh yes she is okay……..we are going to meet her, she is awake and healthy” he smiled at his son, very much relived delivering the news and hearing it again by himself.

“really…I will be here in ten minutes” he said and rushed for his room. Mr. Williams was happy to see his son happy. He started making the food he left when he went to the hospital. Making it, even more, tastier, according to him, and more nutritious for his wife he prepared a couple of things.

A three-story lunch box having boiled white fluffy rice with some sesame oil. Some sweet and sour chicken with sautéed veggies and pieces of fruits along with some grain porridge was set on the table ready to be packed in a big bag with a cold water bottle and napkins.

Ian rushed down in his white-washed half-calf black jeans and a slightly cropped top in brown color. He made his way to his dad and was surprised to see the food that was prepared.

“Wow dad, you did this in ten minutes……and it looks eatable too” he commented stealing a strawberry from the container.

“no my dear, you took thirty to forty minutes just to get ready,” he said in return rolling his eyes at his son's tardiness while putting all the packed stuff in his big bag.

“now come on…we have to come back too. Hopefully, she will get discharged tomorrow.” Said Mr. Williams while grabbing the keys to the car and house and leaving the main door, leaving it to Ian to close the door. Ian did what he was left with and walked to the car. He looked at his opposite side of the street seeing his house of Julian in complete darkness.

After buckling up in the car and riding in complete silence Ian had the chance to think about what happened a few hours back. He liked what they did but he didn’t like it at the same time. He was sure somewhere in the make-out Julian was getting aggressive with him. He held him a little roughly and also kissed him with force. But what happened to his senses, why aren’t they working. He was fully gone when his father arrived at home and where the hell was Julian when he opened his eyes.

The car stopped in the basement parking of the building. Both father and son came out and went for the elevator after locking the car. They reached the reception area in minutes and went straight to her room.

Hannah was sitting on her bed reading a magazine of some sort when she heard the door of her room open. She looked up and her eyes twinkled seeing her son walking through the door. She held her arms out to engulf the boy in her embrace.

Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!” he ran towards her and hugged her with all his might. They both were emotional, eyes welled up with tears, they were about to cry when Mr. Williams pulled a long-legged standing table over her bed. The screech made them both look at Mr. Williams, the moment was broken and both his wife and son were looking at him with the unamused faces.

“Sorry,” he said and started to unbox the food be brought. Both Hannah and Ian shook their head. Ian was excited to see his mom he wanted to tell her so much, he had his comical expressions when he talked, hands flying with each gesture.

“I missed you so much mom, I was so scared when you were not waking up”. He said while looking at her with wide eyes. “Aunty Camron and Ethan were also there, they were worried for you, you know !!!! I fainted because I cried so much and dad declared me weak. He wouldn’t let me come here and stay with you for more than an hour. He said I was not the right age to go through these matters. Tell him, mom, I am a big boy, I can do some big stuff too, I can even do……………..” he stopped rambling when he noticed both his parents were looking at him, trying to stifle their laughs.

“what,” he said, a little embarrassed about his nonstop ramble, he smiled sheepishly and hid his face in his mother’s embrace.

“what you did Darcy, my son is a grown man, why didn’t you let him stay huh?” she asked while pulling her son against her chest and smiling at Mr. Williams.

“yeah? Huh, why didn't you, dad huh? Huh?” he asked with his big innocent grey eyes playfully frowning at his father from where he was settled.

“oh god, two of the same attitude, I can’t,” he said dramatically putting his hand on his forehead, why must he suffer when his wife and son are the same in personality.

“why me God, why me?” he said aloud

“that’s what we should ask, right mom?” said Ian looking at her, she looked at her son and smiled beautifully and caressed his cheeks

“I missed you so much my baby,” she said while kissing his temple. She really did miss him. The horrifying scenario in her mind and those cries for help had her on the edge, seeing her son in a healthy state made her heart warm and also relieved.

“I did too……..so so much” he whined, being emotional again. Thinking about the days he had without his mother made him sad, he didn’t want the repeat of that ever in his life. Mom is the necessity of life, no one can get you, or understand you more than her. he was thankful to God for giving those beautiful eyes smiling at him all time, back and would do anything in his power to keep it that way.

The same goes for Mr. Williams, he was relaxed seeing his family back, a happy family that he would protect till his last breath. He was concerned of course and wanted an answer for what had happened in their house on the day Hannah shouted at him but seeing the reunion of his little family he stayed quiet. Hannah and Ian were looking like the lioness and the cub, dangerous and cute. While they were gossiping like teenagers, Mr. Williams was done with the food.

 “I don’t know if it’s delicious like yours Hannah but I tried to cook” he opened the box of sautéed vegetables and chicken, fruit salad from another box, and porridge. He plated a small amount of everything on Hannah's plate and settled her food in front of her with a spoon and fork.

Hannah eyed her food and pushed it away from her. Both father and son stared at her. She complained through her eyes that she doesn’t want this. Darcy glared softly at her and asked her to accept the food positively. She shook her head in response and Mr. Williams sighed at her stubbornness, he caressed her hand and tried his best to make her eat by taking a spoonful of porridge near her mouth. She frowned and turned her face away. Their son was watching their interaction keenly until he said his thoughts aloud.

“well, it seems like mom wants to be a brat now, seeing the amazing culinary skills of dad and refusing to eat that delicious food, she is childish in her way of complaining and I wonder why doesn’t she whine and roll on the bed according to the character she is in?” he said without a breath in between

“and dad!! Come on you are her husband. Try something more than glaring as you glare at your son. Me. And Mom I know it is difficult but believe me, I went through this when you were hospitalized. But I can assure you it's edible………. see” he picked up the piece of broccoli and gulped it down and smiled.

“that’s how you eat it, so now don’t be stubborn and eat, dad made all this with so much love, consider it’s love you are eating and hopefully it will ease the pain” he sighed after his speech

“God how difficult is to raise parents,” he said while looking at the ceiling and raising his both hands, unaware of the tickle attack coming his way. Mr. Williams calmly rolled the standing long table aside. He smiled at Hannah and she smiled back devilishly. Mr. Williams pulled Ian onto the bed and in front of Hannah. Ian had his eyes wide when he saw what was coming and before he could stop them they both started to tickle him. Ian was naturally more ticklish and that attack was not something light, it was an act of sweet revenge for his parents towards him. Ian was laughing so hard and loud, that all other patients near them would have heard. His breathing was hard and his eyes were teary.

“s..stop….stop mom!!…dad….i ..i i…..am .s.sorry………….. dad!!” he tried to talk while he laughed hard along with his parents.

“I am a brat huh? you little squirrel” Hannah said while laughing

“and I am a bad cook huh? you little bastard” said Mr. Williams with a wide smile seeing his family smile.  Ian panted hard when they left him showing mercy. Hannah again hugged her son and Mr. Williams hugged Hannah and Ian together. He was relieved after a long time, he was happy as well as doctor Roy and his assistant nurse were also happy standing in their room with big smiles on their faces.  

“I don’t think anybody needs medicine to be happy, if you have a happy family it makes you happy automatically.” Said Doctor Roy with a fond smile on his face. Not all patients seem to be this happy when they are hospitalized. His patients in history like Mr. Adam, never laughed during the treatment even if given the chance so that was a plus in his record.

“I am here to tell you that Mrs. Williams is going to be discharged today instead of tomorrow, so here you go with the papers and your prescription. Take care of yourself Hannah” he said while side glancing at Mr. Williams, who had a little glare when he heard his wife’s name.

Roy smiled at Hannah and Hannah reciprocated with a beautiful one. Roy found it best to leave the room before he is a goner again.

………………….

The Williams reached their home talking and giggling their whole way. Hannah was now better, she was happy and realized but as soon as they entered the garage of their house her expression changed a little. She could only hope for everything to get better.

Mr. Williams stepped out only to find a strange-looking man standing near their fencing, having crutches in his hands. The weather was a little cold but the man had only his pants, a worn-out dress shirt over his body, and a brown colored scarf around his neck. He also had a small bag of some type. He was looking at the house opposite Williams, a scowl on his face may be permanent.

The man flinched when the car door close shut behind him. He turned around and looked at the family. Hannah standing with Mr. Williams was surprised to see the man out of the hospital this soon.

“you got discharged, but I thought you had more time,” she said and made her way to the man. She smiled warmly and reached for his hand. The man simply took her hand and squeezed it a little bit with that grumpy face intact and not replying to her.

“Umm, do we know …” Mr. Williams asked looking at them both. Hannah gestured for him to come close so she could introduce them

“Darcy….this is Mr. Adam, a friend I made at the hospital when I woke up,” she said while pointing at Mr. Adam “and Mr. Adam he is my husband, Darcy”

“Nice to meet you,” said Mr. Williams and raised his hand to shake but got ignored when Mr. Adam asked about Ian.

“where is the boy?” he asked looking around.

“oh he is there” she pointed at the back of the car where Ian was taking out some artboards from the garage he had painted earlier. Mr. Adam looked at him and turned his head away. He was beautiful for sure, in this cold weather, his fair complexion and dress were complementing each other.

“no doubt he is after him” he muttered but Hannah heard it, standing close enough.

“I will come back soon, don’t worry ……..and here,” he said while giving her the bag.

“There is an amulet in it, keep it close, it will help,” he said eyeing everything around him

“I will come back soon,” he said and left without saying anything else.

“who was he?” Mr. Williams asked with concern and annoyance both.

“he was with me when I woke up, helped me calm down. This amulet he got me, will help me relax. He is a priest and he was really helpful when I got the panic attacks. I am so much thankful, even doctor Roy is thankful” she lied a little about him being a priest but continued with the story.

“he was so kind to me, very patient and he had a family like us! a beautiful girl and his wife. Sadly, they are no more in this world” she said while they both walked to the main door following a struggling Ian on the way.

“and why was he asking about Ian?” asked Mr. Williams sitting on the sofa in the living room. She sat near him and he put his arm around her securing her closely.

“I told him about Ian when he shared his life, that’s how he knew about him. He wanted to meet him so much” She told him and he nodded at her. they were tired after all.

“let’s pray it helps you if it did in the past,” said Darcy “I am thankful someone was there for you when I couldn’t” he smiled and kissed her, and she kissed back

“you were there whenever I needed you, and I love you so much for everything,” she said sincerely and smiled at her husband.

“do you think taking care of Ian is a simple job, and you did it when I couldn’t,” she said with playfulness in her voice.

“oh hell no……he is so difficult,” he said laughing.

“I can hear you both…………you know” they both giggled when Ian yelled from the kitchen.

God! Don’t take this from them.