Not long before going to bed the night following her �dream,� the girl sat down at her computer desk. She opened a file and scrolled down to the bottom. She dated the entry and began typing:
October 25, 2002
Last night I had yet another dream of the man that has been haunting me for what feels like all of my life. He is gorgeous; his radiant perfection had entranced me long before last night. He is anything a girl could ever want. He is tall and blond with gray eyes. At least, I think his eyes are gray. Most of the time, he is wearing sunglasses. Only, I dream of him in a nighttime setting never during the day.
He gives off the appearance that he had been involved with manual labor for his entire life, except he was so pale. He looks like the type that could hold you in a grip that you could feel safe in, even if the world were falling down around you. Just to be held by those arms, it would ease the fear of death.
I remember little of it, besides awakening to find him perched on the side of my bed. There was a dreamy look on his face; he had been stroking my hair. When I moved to speak to him, he was gone. I called out to him, but it only made me feel stupid, like I had been speaking to myself. I hope he saw me smile, whoever he is.
She sighed, wishing she could meet him just once. Then she would know that he was more than just the dream he appeared to be. There were a few times in which she was positive she had seen him, when she knew she was wide awake. She�d seen him at a few of her performances in plays, at restaurants, in a store and even while walking down deserted streets late at night, either alone or with friends. By the time she had glanced back to see if he was really there, he was gone.
�You�re imagining things. No attractive stranger would ever follow you around,� she said as she grabbed a pair of pajama pants, her toothbrush and toothpaste and headed to the bathroom.
Hardly seconds after the door had shut it opens again, the fair-haired creature slipping through it unnoticed. When he noticed the typing left up on the screen, he could not help but read it. �Soon, my darling, I will appear to you. I know the longing you feel, and I never meant to fill you with such an emotion. We shall know each other, my beauty, and I will never make the mistake of letting you go.�
Upon hearing her footsteps in the hallway, the man moved quickly to the window and opened it, letting himself out. There he waited until he was positive that the girl was asleep. After nearly being caught the previous night, and knowing the exact reaction that the girl would have should he wake her, he found he was becoming more and more daring in his actions.
As what is normal for him on his nightly visits, he began by sitting on the edge of her bed. He noted that, again, her roommate was gone and he was glad of it. There was less to worry about without the second female in the room.
Wind blew through the window, pulling him from his reverie. The girl began shivering violently but she did not awaken. The creature proceeded to position himself next to her, molding his body to the sleeping form. Then, gently, he slipped one arm beneath her and enfolded the woman in his strong embrace. There he remained for a good portion of the night, trying his best to keep his guard up. He would not want to frighten her; that would not produce the desired effect at all.
***She awoke early in the morning. The skies were dark. It must be the middle of the night she thought, before realizing that there was someone in the bed next to her and this person was most definitely male. She could see it in his hands. Turning gently, as not to wake him, she moves to a point where she may see his face.
She gasped at what she saw. �You�you�re real,� she said quietly.
His eyes burst open upon hearing her voice and he moved with a speed that only his kind was capable of. As he placed his fingers on the handle of the door, he heard her choke out a whisper, �Don�t go��
He paused, turning to look at her at a normal speed. She was crying. Silent tears were streaming down her face. The creature could not handle seeing her cry because of him. He dropped his hand to his side and approached her slowly. He sat down beside her and hesitantly wiped away the tears spilling from her eyes. �No, you should not do that, not because of me. I only run from you to keep you from getting hurt��
�You�re real,� she said, plainly. He looked in her eyes and he noticed that, for once, they were filled with hope and pure joy. �I knew you were real.� Her right hand lifted from her side to touch his face, but she paused. He simply nodded to her, as if to tell her that it�s all right. �I�ve dreamed of this moment for so long.�
�You�ve dreamt of me?� The creature asked, incredulous. �I had thought you�d never seen me. I thought you would fear me if we ever met in a setting such as this.�
�I could never fear you. You�ve watched over me, protected me, for years.�
Then the girl awoke with the sound of her alarm clock. �Had it all been a dream?� She sighed. �I was so sure that it had been real this time.�