Dream: Fragmented Life

Date: 12/10/2019

I don't remember all of the dream. Just pieces. Almost as fragmented as the memory of the person I saw through. His name, my name, was Arius. Arius Devaroux the Third. Most just called me Ari. I remember the start of the dream. I, as Ari, had woken up in a field of wilting flowers. There was blood all around me but I couldn't see the source. I assumed it to be mine as I couldn't even get up. Every bit of movement hurt and yet… I was calm. After that I awoke in a white room. There was a curtain around my bed and a beeping to my right. A heart monitor. I could feel someone holding my hand and saw a man in the chair next to me. He was asleep so I couldn't see his eyes. He had shoulder-length thick black hair that was tied back. Lightly tanned skin. He wore a hoodie and jeans but something told me this wasn't his normal attire. Most of all he looked peaceful. I slowly (cuz it hurt) lifted my right hand and gently brushed my fingers over his cheek. Who was he to me? It was something both I and Ari were unsure of. I don't remember leaving the hospital. Next thing I knew I was in a car. It seemed to be a few weeks since I left the hospital. I was in the car with the man from before. His name was apparently Raiker. We were engaged. At least according to the ring on my finger and the posts on our social media. I had little memory of him.. Of anything. I only really knew my name, that I was a guy, and that I was found in a pool of my own blood. Apparently I was lucky to be alive. We were at a house now. Not mine. Not Raiker's. A friend of ours. Jazzy. She had thick brown, curly hair that went to about mid back. Caramel skin with some freckling under her emerald eyes. A slim but toned figure that let you know she could likely kick your ass. Jazzy had a guest room that I was going to be staying in for a while. Raiker wanted to wait to bring me home until he'd more or less fortified it with security. We thanked Jazzy and I soon went to sleep in the guest bed. I awoke with Jazzy sitting by me on the guest bed. She looked panicked and held my hand. I gave her a puzzled expression and she breathed a steadying breath. "You were screaming. Once I took your hand the screams stopped but you trembled the rest of the time till waking up." Jazzy explained. I could see great sorrow in her emerald eyes. "What were you dreaming that frightened you so?" I shook my head. "I don't remember. I… truth be told… I don't remember much of anything anymore…" Jazzy gave my hand a lot squeeze. "Raiker said you had some kind of amnesia. Maybe the dreams are trying to help you remember." I nodded and gave her hand a squeeze right back. "If it's not asking too much… could you stay with me for tonight. I really… I don't think I should be left alone…" Jazzy grinned and tapped my forehead, "Well try and remember this then. I'm into women. So while I'm in here it's just for comfort and sleep." I smiled, "That's all I need honestly." It was like a light shined in the back of my mind. I started to remember a younger Jazzy playing around an elementary blacktop with me. Kick-ball and 4-square were the games of choice. She had vowed back then to be the knight in shining armor to protect me until my actual knight showed up. And to be the dragon guarding me when any false knights tried to take me away. Jazzy beamed, "You remembered something." "Just that you happen to still be both knight and dragon when it comes to me." I told her and kissed the top of her hand. She blushed in embarrassment, "Jeez. Of all the things to remember. Get your ass to sleep already. I'm gonna go shut off the lights." I nodded and felt myself start to drift, "Be careful." Jazzy blinked as I faded into sleep. I could hear her say quietly, "You should. Not me." I must have woken some time ago because I was sitting in Jazzy's kitchen. There was a mug of hot cocoa in front of me. It was dark chocolate with a slight bit of hazelnut creamer mixed in. I had been sipping it for an hour. Maybe longer. I didn't remember getting up. "Raiker will be here soon. Just let him in. I'll see y'all after work." Jazzy stated and kissed the top of my head. "I made my number your emergency contact. Call if anything happens." "I will." I told her before she headed out. It really wasn't long after that I let Raiker inside. He hugged me. Hesitant at first but then did so. He kissed my cheek as well. After sometime he made himself a pot of coffee as I finished off my hot cocoa. Something about this seemed familiar. Another light seemed to shine in the back of my mind. I would get up early to make us hot drinks, him coffee and myself hot cocoa, before he'd go to his law firm for work. I had worked from home as a novelist and comic artist. My hours were erratic but it made it where I could always be home when he was. "Ari, did you remember something?" He asked. Another light. A sinister grin in my vision. I couldn't tell the face. It was too dark. "You better forget this ever happened." A distorted voice from fragmented memory. "Ari?" Raiker called out and I snapped back to the present. "Help me…" I whispered as my heart rate shot up. I clutched to my chest as I felt panic rise. Raiker came over and slowly worked my fingers away from my chest. He helped my unfurl from myself and rubbed his hand up and down my back. A motion to help me focus on something as I breathed. I vaguely remember him doing this before. Long before the accident. I just don't remember when. "Easy does it, Ari." Raiker whispered, "Slow even breaths." I focused on him and my breathing. Calming myself down as best I could. "We were supposed to take you to see Dr. Corsair today." He said before looking in my eyes, "Do you think you can see her?" I nodded weakly, "If you're with me." (I know there was more but I don't remember much else from before I awoke.)