crap by zeta

Sunlight poured over the scenery around her, bright, warm and almost blinding, causing the edges of her vision to become blurred like a faded photograph. Her movements are slow, as if she’s moving through molasses, but she doesn’t mind. There isn’t any hurry to get any where.The quiet hum of insects drone on in the background, cicadas chirping from their hiding places amongst the soft rustling of leaves. It as if time itself has slowed and the languid atmosphere was pulling her gradually down to the earth.

She was still moving through the grass, though feet gliding heavily over the ground, as if she was fighting off fatigue. There was a destination she had to get to, yet there was no urgency in her pace or heart. She just had to get somewhere, but when and why remained just out of her grasp of recollection.

Then there came an unusual sound. It was faint at first, only occurring every so often, but it wasn’t long until she came across the source. A bundle of colors darted between the yellow-green grass, the tinkling of bells and giggling following the small creature as it hopped from one spot to another. She knew what this was now. It right on the tip of her tongue. But she still failed to put her finger on what exactly it was. What this place represented and the figures she saw appearing before her eyes.

Dark hair, red clothing, peeking around the trunk of a large and well shaded tree. Three tails, a petite face, scurrying from the ground to the branches. A game of tag, slowly wavering due to the growing heat. One catches the other, hands reaching for fur, giggles exploding from the two of them as they fall to the ground under the dappled shade of the tree.

She reaches out, mouth opening, willing herself to call out to them. She can feel the warm ground on her back, the prickle of bark between her shoulder blades, and the soft brush of fur against her cheek, despite being no where near any such things. She can feel what she sees, recall the reassuring voice and jingling of bells, love and happiness seeping out of the small creature - her friend, her best friend - and into her own heart.

This is a dream.

A memory.

It is within her grasp, arm now extending painfully out towards the two figures. But they’re fading, moving far beyond her reach as the sun’s light engulfs them and everything around her, fading into a blinding white.

When she awakens, the green grass is gone, the sun is hiding behind the clouds. A cold breeze causes her to shiver. The girl and the small creature are gone, and she is alone once more. Blinking, the woman finally notices something cool on her cheek, and raises a hand to wipe it away, only to pause when another sensation catches her off guard. A gentle caress of fur, a weight briefly curling around her shoulders, and a stray whiff of the summer sun. It only lasts for a second, and it was likely nothing more than the breeze - though regardless of what it was, the renewed warmth in her heart is all she needs now.

“… Ah. I guess I overslept.”