Free Dreaming a Reality by Lisa M. Cronkhite

most of their foliage. The fallen leaves fluttered and blew in the wind, as I took my mid-morning walk. Evergreens with their fresh pine needles absorbed the fierce cold and angry breezes. I bundled up for the invigorating walk, and when I got to the lake, I jogged along the graveled shoreline. I stopped to pick up a small, smooth pebble and found a tarnished locket. I opened it, and inside was a picture of a man and woman, presumably married. My mind began to wander again to the dream I’d had last night.
    The girl was in her late teens, standing with a man on a balcony, somewhere warm and full of palm trees. The sky had an ominous green hue and threatened to rain as the palms flapped back and forth. Ocean waves melted into the sand, soaking it in rhythmic motions.
    She was truly beautiful with long, undulating hair waving in the tepid air. She was staring at the sea, holding tight to the railing, and the man stood behind her, molding his arms around her waist. She was fidgeting a little, trying to loosen his grip.
    I stood inside the room watching as the man turned his head to rest alongside her back. The window blinds tap-danced against the glass doors, making a shuttering sound, while I continued to watch. I felt extremely uncomfortable as I stood there, like I was invading their privacy, yet I couldn’t help but watch.
    It wasn’t until I stood closer that I got a better glance at the man. I couldn’t believe it. I had to get in even closer to see if it was him. It was John. He was the one holding onto to the girl on the balcony. She gave me the impression that she wanted to escape.
    As I stood there in the cold, thinking of my dream, I closed the locket and put it in my pocket. Surprised to find such a beautiful trinket along the beach, I looked around to see if anyone was there. For some reason, I thought I saw a dark figure standing behind the trees across the lake. When I saw the shadow move, I got scared and turned back, yet I dared myself to look back. As soon as I turned around, a flock of crows fluttered off the tree where the shadow stood—I must be losing it, I thought.
    I came back home after walking around the neighborhood and near the lake for over two hours. I couldn’t believe I was gone that long. More and more, I was losing track of time.
    I made it a point once I got back to the house to call Mr. Ming.
    “Do you have time for a meeting?”
    “Sure, what time do you want to come in, Kat?”
    “Well, I was hoping as soon as possible.”
    “Sure. I am just finishing up on the Johnson package. Come in when you are ready.”
    I hung up the phone and hopped in the shower. I hadn’t been to the office in over a month, and since I’d started working from home, there wasn’t much reason to go in. However, I wanted to see my boss face-to-face to tell him about the trip I’d be taking with Mitch, of course leaving the Mitch-part out. I thought it only fair since I hadn’t seen Mr. Ming in a while. He’d been so good to me, and I respected him, as he did me.
    I got myself together, dressing decently enough in black slacks and a white blouse, and was ready to head out.
    I pulled up in the parking lot of the strip mall where Ming Travel was located, got out and walked to the entrance. The jingling of the bell startled him.
    “Oh, hey, Kat. It got so quiet in here I was beginning to fall asleep. I’m the only one in the office right now. Please sit down.”
    He smiled after every word he spoke. He was a short Asian man with black hair and black-rimmed glasses. I always joked with him about his pin-striped shirts. That’s all he’d ever wear.
    I took a seat on the other side of his desk and told him right away why I was there.
    “Mr. Ming, I need to take my vacation week early. I was hoping for the last day in November to the end of the first week in December. Is that okay?”
    “Let me check the books. I don’t think anyone’s put in for those days, but let me see.”
    He pulled out the schedule