Have you ever had a lucid dream? Something that feels so intensely… real yet you know deep down it’s fake. It’s that feeling that something’s just not right. Maybe you don’t know exactly why that’s the case, however, history shows one should always trust their gut and with how Jordan was feeling, he knew something was off… at least he did in the beggining. In these situations, in one moment maybe everything feels normal, and then the next second, there’s this feeling these thoughts screaming at him that something’s wasn’t right. Everything… was off. Wake up. Wake up, Jordan. But he simply couldn’t. And… honestly… the lines were becoming blurred if he even was asleep anymore. Was this a dream…a. nightmare… or simply his new reality? Things… seemed almost seemed normal. That reminiscent feeling that was trying to tell him something was wrong was dulling and was simply noise he now ignored.
Maybe it was a subset of learned helplessness… or maybe he was just forgetting… but Jordan Williams no longer questioned his surroundings. His mind was stuck in limbo, and every moment was like a nightmare he couldn’t get out of. Or was it… even a nightmare? Was it just life?
As it had for the last few days, his eyes opened, and Jordan found himself alone once again in his overly decorated apartment. After all, Christmas was approaching, and Jordan wanted to make sure everything was decorated for his… wait… why was it decorated? Hmm weird. Things were hazy in Jordan’s mind as he looked at the large tree from the comfort of his bed - presents underneath it but why would he need presents just for himself? Oh, who knows… it was probably just for himself - he loved Christmas after all, and if he ever had kids, he wanted to pass that tradition down to them. Kids… thinking about that made his heartbeat for a second, but he simply couldn’t place his mind on why. It was a long time away before he’d have kids… wait no… he has kids doesn’t he? No… no he doesn’t. What was wrong with him today? God, who knew? “Hey Tinke…” Instinctively, Jordan’s hand went to the empty spot beside him, speaking to someone he had assumed was there. Why? The space was empty, but there was a feeling that Jordan was going to say something, however, as quickly as he had the thought, it disappeared. Must have been nothing… oh well.
A sigh left his lips as he took a quick shower, changed into his clothes, and grabbed what he needed to before going to work. It was his usual routine ever since he left B… um… whoever he was before this? His memory was failing him but it didn’t matter, because as soon as Jordan had that thought, he was distracted by the sound of traffic outside. With a smile that never really left his lips, Jordan finally left his place to hit the sunny outdoors, despite the weird start to his morning. It was strangely warm for December, but that didn’t bother the man as he grabbed a bike from the bike rack and started riding to his job. What a beautiful day, there was something almost unnatural about the perfection of how things looked and maybe if he was looking for it, Jordan would have recognized it was… off. Hell, the first few days he was there, he did remember and he tried to remind himself that it was a dream. But that was almost a distant memory at this point… so distant he couldn’t even remember it.
As he reached the space outside his work building, his peddling slowed down and Jordan soon locked his bike in the rack. Business as usual, one may say. He was about to start walking away when he saw one of the women walking near him dropped her scarf. There was no hesitancy as Jordan made his way to pick it up, and tried calling after her but… she didn’t stop. “Excuse me Ma’am, I think you dropped this,” Jordan tried again, walking after her in an attempt to catch up as she turned into an alleyway. Hesitancy filled his being as Jordan turned back to face where he needed to go. He didn’t want to be late, but if he left the scarf, he would likely never be able to return it. So… he followed her.
First running down the Alleyway he already found her at the end, turning right. Of course, he screamed after her again, though clearly, she hadn’t heard him. However… as he made it to the end of the alley, he was no longer in the city. Or… was he? No… this wasn’t where he just was. Looking at a street sign, Jordan read Beryl Ave but where was that? It felt… familiar but he had never been here before. Had he? No. Right? He didn’t have time to contemplate that fact…or even question how he had appeared in a completely random place as he caught sight of the woman who dropped her scarf. “Ma’am,” Jordan yelled again, running after her for the second time as she walked towards a playground-
Finally, Jordan found himself catching up to her. “Ma’am I think you dropped th…” “Shh,”
Confusion filled his features as the women pointed at someone sitting on a bench near them. It was another woman lovingly holding a baby who was clearly no older than 1. She was singing in a language unfamiliar to Jordan, but the child seemed to be enjoying it - cooing at every verse. “My love, one day you will be the happiest baby boy in the world, do you know that?” Jordan watched in confusion as the child coo’d again. “I love you Jordan. I’ll take you away from him and we’ll be happy together. Just you and me okay? I promise. I’ll always protect you, my son.”
Jordan’s eyes widened. Was that boy… him? No it couldn’t be. Just another boy with his name. Yes… that was rational. That made sense. “You were a beautiful boy. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you then, my son.” Jordan turned towards the woman he was chasing after, and the moment he did, the mother and child disappeared, however, he realized the woman in front of him was the same as the one holding the boy. Though… older? “I don’t… understand,” Jordan whispered as the woman put her hand in his. “Listen to me, my son. We don’t have much time. You need to wake up, the longer you stay here, the more your mind will forget and then you may never remember,”
What? He was Asleep? No that didn’t make sense, he had work. He was just going to wo… no. This was crazy. The woman looked sad as she looked at him. “Come here… this will help,” And with that, he felt her arms wrap around him, and almost instantaneously he remembered. He remembered his life, growing up, Yara, Sadie, his kids, Jezebel… Annie and… oh my god. “M…mom?” Jordan asked hesitantly and he felt her holding him tighter, and at that moment, tears fell down his eyes as he held Khaleesi. “I’m so proud of you. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise… but you’re such a strong boy now. I couldn’t have asked for better for you, but Jordan, you need to go back or it’ll be too late.”
But his mom… he didn’t want to leave… he hadn’t seen her… he barely knew the women in front of him and he… missed her. “You’re already starting to forget my son. Listen to me. This is not reality. You need to wake up, now.” Remember? He remembered - what was she talking about. He remembered Beryl, and Sadie, and his kids, and…and what else was there. Close your eyes, clear your mind, and remember that this isn’t really.
Jordan didn’t know what was happening, but with a hesitant expression, he listened, closing his mind and repeating that this wasn’t real. And then a bright light filled the back of his eyes as he heard his mother saying something once again in a different language, still holding his hands - and then he felt it: a pounding in his head.
There was a loud beeping sound that accompanied the pain in his head, and Jordan struggled to open his eyes as a groan met his mouth. Florescent light met his vision, as he opened his eyes and it was clear that he was in a hospital. Why? Well… that was fuzzy.
Where was she?
While Jordan could no longer remember what happened in his fever dream, there were a few things he could remember… like the fact that he needed to see his wife. Currently, Jordan found himself alone, and he struggled to push himself up as someone entered the room.
“Jordan?”
A smile met his lips at the familiar voice as the women ran towards his side supporting him in his endeavor to get up. Without thinking, Jordan didn’t care about anything else as he pulled her towards him, bringing his lips to hers. God, he missed her… he missed his wife and kids. He didn’t even know how long he had been there, but there was this intense feeling of love seeing her. “I love you,” those were the first words that met his lips as he let his hand lovingly move to her cheek. “Sadie, what happened? Where are our kids? Are they okay? Are you okay? I just… I’m so confused.”
@Littlefeets - Jez
@novella - Sadie + Kids
@CerealKiller - Yara mentioned slightly