Dream
In my dream, Janice and I had broken up, and I had moved out of our apartment. At the same time, for some financial reason, my parents had lost their home, but my father had quickly and ably found another place for them to live. In fashion typical of my father, the entire family was relocated and the house was empty a few weeks before the actual foreclosure date. Since my parents' house was "in limbo," I asked if I could stay there for a little while, until I found my own place. My father agreed, but told me not to get comfortable, because I had to be completely gone on the date the property was going to be seized.
The house was empty and strange, and I discovered it had an upstairs room I'd never been to, before, much like the loft at Janice and I's apartment where Cristin's bedroom is, now. In the loft, I found a wire cage with food and a waterbottle, and to my surprise, my sister's pet guinea pig, from her childhood, was inside. I got down and looked at her, and she made her little rumbling purring noise. I lifted her out of the cage, and held her on my stomach as I lay back on the floor, and stroked her. Her white coat was scruffy and dirty, but she was soft and warm. "Ivy?" I said. "I thought you were dead." After a minute, "I guess not. I guess we just forgot about you."
I lay there, in my parents' empty house, with my sister's long-dead pet, and said, "Don't worry, girl. I know what that's like. I won't forget you, again."
The house was empty and strange, and I discovered it had an upstairs room I'd never been to, before, much like the loft at Janice and I's apartment where Cristin's bedroom is, now. In the loft, I found a wire cage with food and a waterbottle, and to my surprise, my sister's pet guinea pig, from her childhood, was inside. I got down and looked at her, and she made her little rumbling purring noise. I lifted her out of the cage, and held her on my stomach as I lay back on the floor, and stroked her. Her white coat was scruffy and dirty, but she was soft and warm. "Ivy?" I said. "I thought you were dead." After a minute, "I guess not. I guess we just forgot about you."
I lay there, in my parents' empty house, with my sister's long-dead pet, and said, "Don't worry, girl. I know what that's like. I won't forget you, again."