No Basis in Reality

She still couldn't shake the previous night's dream. She'd been walking in the living room of her grandmother's old home. Grandma Andrews, who had been dead, for 20 years. The house had been torn down, just last year. As Marge had walked through the doorway of the living room, gazing at the huge rose patterns on the wallpaper, she noticed the room was full of people. This was her family. Her uncle Ray, who had been dead for 5 years. Aunt Bess, who had been dead, since before Marge was born. There was Grandpa Andrews. Marge remembered sitting by his rocking chair, as a child, the night before he died. Why were these people all here? They were all dead. Had been dead, for many years. This house was gone. Marge realized there was a casket at the room's center. Someone had died. This was that person's wake. They were here, to pay their respects to this person. To celebrate this person's life, and to say goodbye. But everyone here was already dead. Who could be in the casket? Marge continued forward. Slowly, uncertainly. Fearfully. A sense of familiarity came over her, as she approached the casket. As she looked into it, she jerked awake. Not finding out who was in there.

Marge awoke from this dream, soaked in sweat. It haunted her in ways she couldn't even imagine. It left her shaken. She knew something was wrong. With trembling fingers, she called her sister. "Is everything okay? I just had a strange dream. I think someone's about to die!"

"It was just a dream," Sara told her. "Relax, Margie. You freak out over everything. It was just a dream. Dreams have no basis in reality."

Next, she called her brother. "Andy, something's wrong! I can FEEL it! I just had a scary dream." And she proceeded to tell him about it.

"Calm down, Sis," Andy said. "Everything's cool. You're overreacting. Dreams aren't real. Okay? You gotta get on to work. I'll call ya later."

Each person she called, each family member, thought Marge was about to snap. Everything was fine. Life was good. No one was sick. No one had been in an accident. Why couldn't Marge get the strange dream out of her mind? Why couldn't she shake the feeling that something was wrong? Something was going to happen. No one believed her.

Marge went about her usual morning routine, a little later than usual, because of the phone calls. She thought on the dream, as she ate her peanut butter toast with orange juice. She found herself laughing it off, as she brushed her teeth and washed her face. She stared at herself in the mirror. Smiling, she repeated her sister's words. "Dreams have no basis in reality."

She was running late, now. She would be late for work.

Pulling out of her driveway, she watched the black storm clouds, rolling in. "Great," she said sarcastically. "I'm already late. Now I have to outrun a storm!" The clouds swirled menacingly. But she knew there was nothing to worry about. She'd watched the Weather Channel. Just a little rain. No big deal.

Marge was unconcerned, as she made her way down the two-lane road, humming along with the radio, heading toward town. She'd always been an extra-careful driver. Everyone laughed at her, saying she drove like a little old lady. She laughed, herself, then at that memory.

She turned onto the one-way street, leading to the office where she worked. Not much further now. But her boss would be mad. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of lightning. It blinded her, momentarily. She couldn't see. As her vision cleared, she saw the tree, moments before she hit it.

Marge was walking through the living room of Grandma Andrew's old home. Gazing at the dead family members, making her way to the casket. A sense of familiarity came over her, as she approached the casket. As she looked into it, her own features glared back at her. SHE was the one in the casket!

She turned around and saw her sister crying into their brother's arms. "I should've listened to her!" Sara whispered. "She called me and said she had a strange dream. She knew someone was going to die!"

Uncle Ray appeared beside Marge. "Come now, dear. We've been waiting for you. It's time to go."