Imagination
Imagination
By Brett Allen
“Come on Kelly, just try.” Dylan said with a look of hope in his eyes.
“I’m sorry but it’s just not in me.” Kelly replied sadly.
“Fine, I’ll walk you through it. Now, close your eyes and let your mind wonder. I know it’s in you, Kelly. It always will be.”
“I just can’t, not since the accident. I just can’t imagine anymore.” Kelly said sadly.
“Come on, just relax. Here hold my hand” Dylan said as he slide his hand around hers.
“Alright but I don’t think it will work.”
Kelly could feel the warmth of Dylan’s palm. She knew how much he loved her. She had to try.
“Now think back to our wedding day.” Dylan whispered.
‘Come on, Dylan. I can’t imagine that. It hasn’t even happened yet.” Kelly laughed.
“Sure you can, Kelly.”
It had been months since the accident. Kelly and Dylan had driven up to Asheville for the weekend.
They had always wanted to stay at the Grove Park Inn and had finally saved up enough money. It had been everything they had imagined. Their room had been on the top floor. Large oak trimmed windows revealed a view of the Asheville’s skyline with a Smokey Mountain backdrop. They had dinner at the Sunset Terrace overlooking the city lights. After enjoying drinks in the bar, they had returned to the room and enjoyed each other's company.
As Kelly fell asleep in Dylan’s arms, all he could think about was his plans to ask her to be his wife. Tomorrow would be the beginning of a lifelong dream.
The next morning they jumped into Dylan’s old 55 Chevy pickup and headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A light drizzle was falling when they first turned onto the Parkway. Little did they know how life would change that day.
“I hear there are some beautiful waterfalls where we’re going.” Dylan said.
Great! I’m so excited. I don’t even care if it’s raining, it make everything look so pretty.” Kelly smiled as she slid a little closer to Dylan.
The drive had been beautiful. A low fog hung low over the trees and small waterfalls cascaded over the rock cliffs that lined the road.
The old pickup truck purred up the mountain road. Dylan kept his speed down due to the winding road and wet surface. As they rounded the next curve, a dark tunnel came into view.
“I remember when I was a little girl that I would always hold my breath anytime my parents would drive through a tunnel.” Kelly exclaimed.
“I really wished I had had a chance to meet your parents” Dylan replied.
“It’s alright. I know their watching us from heaven right now.? Kelly smiled.
“Well, as long as they weren’t watching us last night.” Dylan winked.
As they drove into the mouth of the tunnel, Kelly inhaled deeply. Holding her breath, she counted the seconds in her head.
“One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one thousa…
Kelly looked down at her bare feet as gentle waves tickled her toes. As she raised her head, she was surprised to see a pristine white beach before her.
“Well, today’s the big day. I know how you’ve dreamed of this.” Kelly was shocked to hear her mother’s voice.
Her mother and father stood at her side. “Let’s get this show on the road. You don’t want to keep that boy waiting any longer.” Her father chuckled.
Kelly realized she was wearing a beautiful white satin wedding dress, just like the one she had picked out of Brides magazine when she was little. ‘Could this really be happening?’ she thought to herself.
Just then soft music began to play. Making her way through the sand, she soon stood beside Dylan. He wore a white linen suit and looked all so handsome.
Smiling, Dylan took her hand as her parents both gave her a kiss on the creek.
“Let us begin.” said the dark Jamaican priest that stood before them.
“Today, in the presence of God above and da loved ones that be in attendance; we are here ta join this mon and this womon in holy matrimony.
As the service continued, Kelly looked into Dylan’s eyes. She knew that this man loved her more deeply than life itself. He would always be with her no matter what was before them. Dylan was truly her soul mate.
“Now before I start da weddin vows, Dylan would be liking to say something.” announced the priest.
Dylan smiled as he grazed into Kelly’s beautiful cinnamon colored eyes. “ In life few men are lucky enough to find the woman of their dreams but I was blessed in life to find my soul mate. Most wedding vows say ‘ til death do us part’ but I for one do not believe that to be true. My love for you will indeed last a life time but I know in my heart that our love will last forever. Kelly, I promise to love you today, tomorrow and forever.”
Kelly returned Dylan’s graze as tears of happiness fell down her cheek. “As do I” Kelly replied.
The priest stepped forward and continued the ceremony.
“Da you Kelly, take tis mon to be your husband, ta love and cherise ,ta have and ta hold,forever and ever?”
“I most defiantly do.” Kelly replied.
Turning to Dylan, the smiling Jamaican said, “Da you Dylan, take tis beautiful woman to be your wife, ta love and cherise, ta have and ta hold, forever and ever?
“I do, forever and ever.” Dylan said.
“Well, what you be wait’in for? Go ahead and kiss ta bride, mon.” the preist said with a laugh.
Dylan pulled Kelly into his arms, as their lips touched.
Closing her eyes, Kelly felt as if they were the only two people in the world. The warmth of Dylan’s lips seemed to take her breath away….
Four one-thousand, five… Kelly was back in the darkness of the tunnel. Dylan reached down and turned on the old truck’s headlights. Kelly continued to hold her breath as she listened to the low rumble of the truck’s exhaust as it echoed off the hard stone walls.
They both watched as one of the many tour buses that cruised the Blue Ridge Parkway entered the far side of the tunnel. Its large mass seems to engulf the opening.
“It will be a tight squeeze but don’t worry, there’s plenty of room for the both of us.” Dylan reassured her.
Kelly continued to hold her breath and count off the second… eight one-thousand, nine one-thousand.
The tour bus lumbered forward, it’s headlights chasing away the darkness. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the confines of the tunnel as the buses front right tire blew out. The force of the concussion knocked the air from Kelly’s lungs.
Kelly and Dylan watched in horror as the bus swerved to its right, slamming into the hard rock side of the tunnel. Sparks flew from the tortured metal. Abruptly, the bus seemed to bounce off the unforgiving wall of stone. Dylan slammed on the brakes of the old truck as the oncoming headlights filled their lane. Kelly closed her eyes in an attempt to hide to forthcoming collision. The seconds ticked by… eleven one thousand, twelve….
When the impending accident didn’t come, Kelly opened her eyes. Dylan stood before her with a look of excitement in his eyes.
“It worked, didn’t it? You were able to imagine again?
You saw our wedding day!” Dylan smiled.
“Yes, I saw our wedding day. It was perfect but…”
Kelly started to say when she was interuped by Dylan.
“No ‘but’, I want you to try one more time while you’re on a roll. Now, close your eyes and imagine our grandkids.”
“Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself, we don’t even have a kid of our own, let alone grand babies?” Kelly laughed.
“I love you, Kelly. Please, just try one more time.” Dylan replied.
Kelly closed her eyes and tried once again to imagine. She knew how much Dylan loved her and it gave her the strength she needed.
In the darkness, Kelly heard the sound of children playing and a cool breeze caressed her face. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
A lush green field of grass stood before her. On each side of the field stood a single soccer goal. A group of what looked to be six year old children followed a black and white soccerball, like a swarm of bumblebees buzzing around their hive.
Dylan stood on the sideline watching the game with a look of pure enjoyment on his face. Kelly watched as one little boy broke away from the pack, kicking the ball in front of him. He showed great ball control even at his young age.
“D.J., go for the goal! Dylan yelled.
As the boy confronted the goalie, he faked to the left then quickly shot on the goal to the right.
GOAL! Everyone shouted.
D.J. jumped up and down with excitement just as the ref blew the whistle ending the game. Next D.J. patted the defeated looking goalie on the back then he ran off the field and made a beeline for Kelly.
“Grandma, Grandma, did you see? I made a goal!” D.J. yelled.
“I sure did! You are quite the little soccer player.” Kelly instinctively answered. Looking down at her hand she was amazed to see how much they had aged.
“I wish Grandpa could have seen me.” D.J. said.
“Not to worry, he was watching it all from the sidelines” Kelly replied.
“Sure Grandma, I know Grandpa is always watching over me. I gotta go tell Dad.” D.J. smiled.
Kelly watched as her grandson ran across the field to where his teammates stood around their coach; a coach that was the spitting image of Dylan. Kelly watched as her son picked up D.J. and gave him a big hug.
Dylan stood at Kelly’s side smiling. “They grow up so fast, Grandma.”
‘They sure do.” Kelly replied.
“You’ve done a great job, Grandma. I only wished I could have been more help” Dylan said.
“I couldn’t imagine doing it without you.” Kelly answered.
“That’s just it, Kelly. You got your imagination back. Now, you can even imagine life without me.” Dylan smiled as he pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Kelly”
Kelly once again closed her eye as Dylan kissed her deeply. She could feel the pure love and passion as their lips met. Kelly hesitated to open her eyes, never wanting this moment to end.
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. Bright white light stung her vision.
“Oh! I’m sorry. I’ll turn down the lights. It’s great to see you finally awake.” said a nice looking gray-haired man.
Kelly watched as he walked over to the light switch and lowered the brightness. He wore blue scrubs and a stethoscope around his neck.
“There we are, that should be better. You’ve been out for quite awhile but that should be expected with all that you’ve been through. I’m Dr. Huntington. So, how do you feel?”
“My head really hurts. How did I get here? Kelly asked.
“You don’t remember the accident? You are very lucky to be alive but don’t worry the baby is find.”
“Baby? I’m not pregnant.” Kelly said confused.
“Oh, you didn’t know. You are most definitely pregnant. If it wasn’t for the man in the truck with you, things could have been a lot different. The police officer said he saved both your lives. I’m so sorry but he didn’t survive.” Dr. Huntington said with a look of sadness in his eyes.
Kelly suddenly was back in the tunnel watching in horror as the bus slammed into the frontend of the old truck. At the last second, Dylan had thrown his body in front of her, protecting her and their unborn baby.
Tears ran down Kelly’s face as she realized he was gone. She knew that Dylan had come back to the her to show her what the future held and to give her the strength to imagine life without him. Deep inside Kelly knew Dylan would always be with her, after all she could now imagine him anytime.
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