Chapter 65 - The Boy In The Dreams

Chapter - 65

"Mom! Dad! Hurry up! We are going to be late. Hurry Up! Hurry Up!" A boy no more than five or six cried out for his parents as he ran around the house in excitement.

"Coming... just five minutes," the boy heard his mother's voice. The boy sulked when he heard that it was going to take more time for them to leave.

"Champ! Here I am," A man walked from behind the boy, picked him up and twirled him in the air. The frown vanished from the boy's face, and he was giggling again.

"Dad! Put me down. Hehehe... I feel dizzy," The boy said, giggling.

"No... no... no... no... no," the man, instead of putting the boy down, supported the boy with his hand on the boy's tummy and made him fly like an aeroplane around the room, "Here we go, and now we are going to land in front of your mother. Let's get her on board," the man said and still flying the boy like an aeroplane climbed upstairs.

The father and son duo crashed open the door and entered the room.

"Oh, my..." A lady possibly in her early thirties was surprised to her wits and almost screamed. Sighing in relief, she smacked the man on her arm before turning her attention to the boy.

When the boy saw his mother looking at him with a serious face, afraid of getting a scolding, he closed his eyes, preparing his cheek for the impact. But all he got was a kiss on his forehead. Surprised, he opened his eyes only to find his mother smiling at him.

"Now get down of your dad's embrace. I am ready to leave," the lady said as she took the boy from the man's embrace and helped him stand up on his feet, tidying his clothes.

"Now off we go, Puppy Power!" the boy grabbed hold of his parent's arms and walked out of the room happily.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Just stay here... No matter what you hear, don't even think about moving from here. Do you hear me?" A lady said as she removed opened the duct and made the boy crawl into it, "Answer me. Do you understand?" The lady shouted as she asked.

The boy just nodded towards the lady. He was confused about what was happening, but one thing was evident, the lady was scared.

"Say it out," the lady insisted. Though she sounded harsh, there was nothing but worry and remorse in her voice.

"I won't," the boy meekly said.

"Good," the woman was somewhat relieved to hear that. She covered the shaft again and bolted it, "I love you. No matter what happens, I want you to always remember that I love you," the lady said and dashed away.

"Mom! Mom!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"That's all I see in those dreams. Only one dream, and it's always the same. In the same sequence as well," Alex told Rachel. He had just finished going through the details of his dream.

Rachel didn't have words to say. She was thinking of several possibilities and scenarios all at once. But one thing she could deduce was the reason for the childlike innocence of Alex she has seen over the months because no matter how you see it, the boy is no one but Alex. His mind is stuck in that loop of innocence and thirst for parental love.

"Alex, I am sure you also have the same idea about that boy as I have. There is a high possibility that the boy is you from your childhood, and the man and woman in your dream are your parents," Rachel finally said, collecting her thoughts.

"I feel the same," Alex nodded, "That's why I can't bring myself to tell it to Mom and Dad." Alex shared her reservations about the dram with Rachel.

"I am sure they will understand, "Rachel said, "They are also hoping for you to regain your memories."

"I don't know. Sometimes I feel that since I have been given a new chance, a second life, I should just stop looking for the past. But the thought that someone might be looking for me out there makes me want to go forward," Alex told Rachel her thoughts. He had never been this open with Rachel with her inner turmoils ever before. Maybe his recent experiences with people around him like Susan, Margaret, Karen and others makes him want to lose the baggage he has been carrying with him all this while. He only wants to lead a normal life.

"What about their faces? Do you think if you concentrate enough, you will be able to remember them?" Rachel asked, "If you can. I will call for a sketch artist and have their sketches made. It might help find them."

"You know what? I don't know," Alex said, shaking his head.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Rachel asked, confused by his words.

"I mean what I said. I literally don't have any idea. The faces are all blur," Alex said as he leaned forward, "It's the voice that made me feel all the emotions. You know, sometimes just listening to someone's voice is soothing enough to forget all your worries..." Alex said and took a deep breath.

"... Whenever I have these dreams, it's always the last part that leaves me shaking. Otherwise, for the longer part of the dream, I am longing for more," Alex told Rachel.

"So you can't even see any emotion on their face, no eyes, no nose, nothing?" Rachel asked.

Alex shook his head.

"Then what about..." Rachel wanted to further ask some questions.

"Can we stop here for today, aunt?" Alex interfered as Rachel was saying something.

Hearing Alex, Rachel came to realise that he had already opened up a lot today. Pushing him anymore might not be the best thing for his mental health.

"Silly me. You are right, let's call it a day," Rachel said, closing her notepad, "Want to join me for some snacks? My treat," Rachel offered as she stood up.

"Really? I would love to," Alex agreed immediately.

"Let's go then. After you," Rachel said as she slightly bowed in front of Alex and gestured for him to leave first.

"C'mon, aunt. You are too much," Alex said and with a smile on his face, walked out of the room.

After Alex walked out of the room, Rachel looked at the glass window behind the chair Alex was sitting and gave a slight nod before following Alex outside.

* * * * *