The park was quiet, shrouded in the indigo hues of early evening. A slight breeze rustled the trees, carrying the faint scent of grass and earth. John sat on a bench near the edge of the path, his hands resting in his lap, fingers fidgeting with the sleek black card in his pocket. He had spent days preparing for this moment—helping Noah craft the dream, refining every detail, feeling the weight of the boy’s hope on his shoulders. Now, he was here, waiting for someone he hadn’t seen in years.
When he saw the shadow moving along the path, his breath caught. Her presence filled the space even before she stepped into the faint glow of the lamppost. She wore a dark coat that billowed slightly in the breeze, her hair a halo of shadow around her face. Her eyes, sharp and glinting, locked onto his, and a small smirk tugged at her lips.
“John,” she greeted, her voice soft but laced with an edge. “Fancy seeing you after all this time. Still playing the dream maker, I see.”
He forced himself to stay calm, to ignore the memories her presence stirred. “Yeah, but this one’s different. It’s a kid, Valerie.” The name slipped from his lips without a second thought, her true name like a secret only he held. In that single word, he saw her smirk falter, just slightly, as their history settled in the space between them.
She froze, her eyes narrowing as if he’d struck a raw nerve. The soft breeze caught the edges of her coat, but her gaze stayed fixed on him, the faintest glimmer of warning in her expression. “Don’t,” she said, her voice low and laced with steel. “You know better than that, John.”
He raised his hands, a gesture of apology. “I didn’t mean anything by it. It just… slipped out.”
Her stare didn’t waver. “For your sake, I hope that’s true. Do you know what people would say if they knew I had a… connection to someone like you? If they found out Dream Catcher had ties to her past that she hadn’t severed?”
John felt a pang in his chest but managed to keep his voice steady. “I understand. No one at Make a Dream knows anything. I’ve been careful.”
“Good.” Her gaze softened slightly, though a warning remained in her eyes. “Slip-ups like that could ruin everything. I expect you to be as… professional as I am.”
He wanted to laugh at the irony—*professional,* she said, as though either of them could pretend their past was just a forgotten chapter. But he nodded, letting the tension settle. “It won’t happen again.”
A small, almost reluctant smirk tugged at her lips. “See that it doesn’t.” She took a step back, her stance relaxed again, but her eyes stayed guarded.
The silence between them felt heavy, neither quite sure how to bridge the gap left by years apart. Finally, John cleared his throat, hoping to steer the conversation back to the reason they were here.
“So, about Noah,” he began. “He’s different from the other kids I’ve worked with. We’ve spent a lot of time working on his dream, and it’s... not your typical wish. He’s not looking for a hero, someone to sweep him off his feet. He wants something real. An escape into a world that’s just a bit like ours, but where he isn’t held back by anything.” He hesitated. “He’s looking for freedom.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Valerie tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face. “Freedom,” she echoed softly, almost to herself. “In a world that’s not perfect. That’s rare in a child.”
“Yeah, he’s different,” John agreed. “I think he understands more about what’s happening than most kids his age. And when he started talking about dreams, about stepping into a world beyond reality…” He held her gaze, knowing she’d catch his meaning. “Well, I knew there was only one person who could give him that.”
Valerie studied him, her expression unreadable. “So you need me, after all.”
He forced himself to look unaffected. “No one else could pull it off the way you could,” he admitted. He saw the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes, the same self-assured gleam she’d always had when they’d worked together. Even then, she’d carried herself with that dangerous confidence, a force that both drew him in and warned him away.
For a moment, he thought he saw a hint of vulnerability behind her cool demeanor. But then she laughed softly, snapping him back to the present. “Well, flattery aside, I’ll consider it. I’ll take Noah where he wants to go… on one condition.”
John felt a twist of apprehension. “And what’s that?”
“You’ve spent all this time shaping his dream, haven’t you?” she said, her voice laced with quiet challenge. “Then you’re coming with us. He’ll need you there.”
He blinked, thrown by the unexpected demand. “Me? Why?”
Her smile was sharp, almost taunting. “Because this isn’t the kind of journey a child should go on alone. And because,” she added, her voice dropping to a whisper, “I’d like to see how you handle yourself in a world of my making.”
John felt the familiar pull of both excitement and trepidation, the same feeling he’d had when they first met. “This isn’t about me, Valerie,” he reminded her, emphasizing her name deliberately. “It’s about Noah and his dream.”
Valerie shrugged, her expression still playfully defiant. “Exactly. And he needs you there. He trusts you. You’re his guide as much as I am.” She paused, her eyes gleaming with something he couldn’t quite place. “Unless you’re afraid?”
He forced a laugh, though his nerves stirred. “Afraid? No. But you’re asking a lot.”
“Am I?” she asked, her gaze softening just slightly. “Or maybe you’re asking a lot of me?”
John felt a twinge of guilt, the weight of his request settling on him. What he was asking her to do was no small thing; he knew the toll these dreams could take. “I didn’t mean to… it’s just… Noah’s not like the others. He’s really counting on this.”
Valerie watched him for a moment, her gaze softening. “I know. And I don’t blame you for wanting the best for him. But if I’m going to share this world with him, I’d like to know you’ll be there. Just to make sure everything goes as planned.”
It was a strange request, but he understood her reasoning. The dream world she created would be intricate, full of potential—and risks. Having him there would give her a tether to reality, a way to manage the boundaries she’d be bending. “Alright,” he agreed finally. “I’ll join you. But only to make sure Noah’s safe.”
Her smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. “Of course, John. This is all about the boy, after all.”
He nodded, trying to steady his resolve, though the idea of entering her world again was enough to send a chill down his spine. He hadn’t been back there since… well, since things had fallen apart between them. But if Noah’s happiness depended on it, he’d find a way to face whatever she had planned.
“When would you like to begin?” he asked, folding his arms to mask his nerves.
She stepped closer, the shadows playing along her face in the dim light. “Tomorrow evening. Meet me here at the same time. We’ll make this dream happen together.”
“Alright,” he replied, holding her gaze. The mixture of challenge and something else—a shadow of their past—lingered between them, unspoken. He forced himself to stay focused, determined not to let memories cloud his mind.
Valerie’s eyes lingered on him for a moment longer, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Good,” she said, satisfaction clear in her voice. She turned, her figure slipping into the shadows of the park. But before she disappeared entirely, she cast him one last glance over her shoulder, her voice carrying softly on the night air. “And John?”
“Yes?”
“Remember, I’m the one in control here.”
He felt a familiar pull of something like awe—and something darker. She’d always carried that power over him, a magnetic force he’d been unable to resist. He gave her a nod, not trusting his voice to stay steady.
As she disappeared into the darkness, he murmured softly, almost to himself, “I never forgot, Valerie.”
In the silence that followed, her name echoed in his mind, bringing with it a flood of memories. She was still as intoxicating and unpredictable as ever, and though he tried to remind himself this was all for Noah’s sake, a part of him wondered if he’d be able to leave that dream world unscathed.