by Sandra Daum
The Fire Devils are shaking me by the shoulder and try to drag me away, deep into the dark woods. I break out in tears and start calling for help again.
“Wake up, Sebastian! Come to,” my grandmother says.
Finally, the devils let go of me and disappear in the shadows between the trees. Colors and shapes around me gradually start to fade and dissolve. I slowly drift back into reality, feeling incredibly relieved. It was only a bad dream. I open my eyes. There is the bare charcoal-grey ceiling of our bedroom above me. My grandmother is sitting at the edge of my bed, caressing my arm.
“You´ve just had a dream, darling. Everything is alright. You´re safe”, she soothes me. “I shook you over and over again, but you kept on flailing your arms. What is it, you were so afraid of?”
“They were everywhere,” I croak in despair.
“Who was there, darling? Whom are you talking about?” she wants to know.
“Devils! They were as red as fire and huge. I was surrounded by flames!” I sputter.
“Calm down. It was nothing but a nightmare. And now it´s over,” she says. However, there is something in her eyes I can´t quite fathom. Recognition maybe … and sadness.
I have been reliving this dream for a while now. Until some days ago I would have loved to stow it away in a little box, to be able to take it out again anytime I want to replay it over and over. Naturally, I know that this is impossible. The world featured in my dreams does not exist any longer. I only know these vivid images from books, pictures, and the tales, my grandparents told me. As beautiful as this ever recurring dream from my past might have been, it has come to a terrible end last night. And I can´t grasp the reason why. It actually would be the best idea to get up, but my body refuses to. Once again, exactly like in my nightmare. A little window right next to my bed allows me to look out. However, I don´t see any other color but gray. I was hot in my sleep and the flames singed my skin, even though it´s cold in real life. Very cold! It´s winter. I start to freeze and pull my blanket a little higher up to my nose. My grandmother gently draws the blanket back, kisses my forehead, like she does every morning, and ruffles my blond hair. Her worried face expression has vanished.
“Rise and shine! Maybe today it´ll be the day Tilla will have her baby. And you´ll be allowed to christen the little one. You would not want to miss that and let someone else do it?” she says with the hint of a smile on her lips. She knows exactly how to get me out of bed. I´ve been waiting for a sheer eternity for the day the baby will be born. I cannot be late for whatever reason. I toss my blanket aside and hug my granny with the words “Your are the greatest!” Then I rush to get dressed. It doesn´t take me long to put on my off-white sweater, my threadbare black pants, and my scuffed brown shoes. After I´m finished in the bathroom, I race down the hall.
© Sandra Daum 2024-02-01