Echo’s of Dreams
By: Amy “AnnieO” Hanna
Edited by: Sharon “Trivia” Blank
****WARNING******
This story does contain
character death do not read if you are offended by this.
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The rain had finally stopped and allowed the
stars to alight the night sky, Shane Gooseman walked alone in the quiet house,
having sent the children to bed after a long and tiring day. He found the quiet to be almost unbearable,
it gave him time to think, and his thoughts kept returning to one thing,
her. How her smile lit up a room. How she felt in his arms, her hair as he ran
his fingers throw it. He felt his heart
constrict at the thoughts, he would no longer be able to wake up with her in
his arms, to feel her lips, to hear her laugh.
To not have her in his life, could he survive? Did he want to survive without her? His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of cries. He slowly made his way to the room at the
end of the hall and pulled the door open. Inside was one of the reasons he had
to keep going, his daughter. He gently
lifted the small bundle from the crib and walked over to the window, allowing
the starlight to blanket him and Arhya in its tender glow. As he stood there his mind turned to the
four other wonders in his life.
Nicholas, so strong yet so fragile, Joseph and Caleb, always together
taking strength in each other yet at a loss in there grief, Zach,
quiet…sensitive, seeming so lost yet his resolve never faltered, and Arhya, so
small…so alone, how could he tell her that her mother died giving life to her,
and would she understand? Would they
understand? Would they know how much
Niko loved them? That she would have
done anything for them? How could he
explain it when he did not understand it himself? All these questions and a million more ran through his mind in
that one moment of reflection. He
gripped the bundle tighter to him.
“Come on my little Cricket, let’s go see
your brothers” He paused as he left the room glancing at the small tape player
that Niko had kept there for the children when they were restless. He walked over to it a turned it on, his
eyes momentarily filling with tears as he recognized the song that softly
echoed in the small room.
*Once you had gold
Once you had
silver….
He slowly walked to Nick’s room and silently
pulled the door open. Nick lay in his
bed, the starlight’s soft glow alighting his face. Shane could see the signs of grief upon the peaceful face and
felt his heart break at the thought of what his children must be going
through. He glanced down at his
daughter, her green eyes regarding him.
He allowed a small smile to grace his face.
“Your Mom wanted so much for him. She used to tell me how much he reminded her
of me. But now I look at him and all I
see is the pieces of Niko that are in him.” He glanced down at Arhya as a small
sound escaped her. “He has her spirit and courage. He is only eight years old, and he already stands up for what he
thinks is right. Niko’s gift to him.”
He gently closed the door.
Then came the
rains
Out of the blue
Ever and always
Always and ever
Time gives both
darkness and dreams to you….
He moved once again
down the hall to the next door and silently opened it.
Now you can see
Spring become
autumn
Leaves become gold
Falling from
view….
Arhya glanced up at her father and waved her
tiny hand in the air. “Joseph and Caleb, your Mom called them her Jeckle and
Hyde. Caleb is always getting into
trouble while Joseph always tries to get Caleb out of trouble. She gave them her strength and her
humor. The two of them can always find
a way to cheer everyone up. The two of
them seemed so alone today. So lost without Niko here.” He winced slightly as
he hears Joseph whimper softly in his sleep, Shane blinked back unshed tears
and pulled the door shut.
Ever and always
Always and ever
No-One can promise
a dream come true
Time gives both
darkness and dream to you….
He moved to the last door in the hall and
silently opened it.
What is the dark
Shadows around
you….
Arhya gurgled to herself and Goose placed
his thumb in her hand smiling as she curled her fingers around it. “Zach, he’s the quiet one, like his Mom was
before I really knew her. He has his
Mom’s heart, always willing to help no matter what.” Shane watched as Zach
settled further into the covers. “He
never thinks of himself, only about the people around him. You’re Mom was like that, she always gave a
piece of herself to help people, I think that was one of the first things I
loved about her. She never questioned
why I was the way I was. She just
excepted it and loved me for who I was.” He allowed another glance at his
youngest son and silently pulled the door shut.
Why not take heart
In the new day…
Shane slowly made his way back to Arhya’s
room and sat in the rocking chair.
“Then theirs you my Cricket.” She looked up at her father, her green
eyes sparkling in the starlight. “Niko
gave you everything. You have so much
of your Mom in you that..” He paused glancing into her crystal green eyes’, “I
blamed you, at first. Then I held you
for the first time, and I knew that I hadn’t lost Niko completely.” He softly
caressed Arhya’s cheek as she yawned, “There is a piece of your Mom in each of
you, a touché of her dreams in yours.
You and your brothers are my heart and soul.” He smiled as Arhya slowly
closed her eyes’. “Sleep my little Cricket.”
He rose and gently placed her back into her crib. “Dream of all you can do.” He silently pulled the door shut.
Ever and always
Always and ever
No-One can promise
a dream for you
Time gave both
darkness and dreams to you…
A silent shadow
slowly approached the crib Arhya opened her eyes and stared at the figure above
her. A gentle hand touched her cheek
and a soft voice came from the darkness.
“You are all my promises, you are all my hope. You are the light in the darkness you are my finial gift to him.
“ A single tear escaped as the figure watched Arhya close her eyes. “You are all my dreams for each of them, and
all my love is you.” Upon her pillow a
single tear fell.
No-one can promise
a dream for you
Time gave both
darkness and dreams to you
End….
*Once you had Gold:
Written and performed by Enya.
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