Tightrope

Chapter 3

The dream was different this time.

It wasn't like the other nightmares. You'd be expecting it to be similar to the other ones, but it wasn't.

This time, the darkness that would've appeared at the end of the dream-or maybe nightmare-wasn't anywhere to be seen. Everything cloudy, everything dark, was replaced with a grassy floor and a bright blue sky with some clouds strewn about.

There was no tightrope. There was no tightrope on the floor or in the air. No cliffs, either.

But you know who I saw in front of me?

Not my friends, but my deceased parents, named Mei and Taichi Saki.

Those black eyes and long black hair of my Mother.....that short brown hair but blue eyes of my Father that some people compliment me on.....it was definitely them. No doubt about it.

"W-Why....?" I said, sounding so soft it was more like a whisper.

Smiling at me, my Mother took a step closer to me.

"We thought you could use a different kind of dream this time. It's so nice to see you again, honey." My Mother said, her smile growing slightly larger as she took another step towards me, but there was still a lot of space between us.

"Your Mother's right, Neon. Wow, you've gotten big....it seems like only yesterday when you were just nine years old." Dad said, now standing next to Mom and smiling at me.

"Yeah, and it seems like only yesterday when you guys died right in front of me...." I muttered, looking down at the ground.

"What was that?" Mom asked.

"Nothing." I said quickly and looked back at them.

"It wasn't our fault, Neon. It's not like we asked those men to barge into our house and kill us." Mom said.

"Yeah, I know. S-Sorry...." I said, now avoiding eye contact again.

"If we could be in your life right now, we would. We want to be in your life so badly, but being dead, there's nothing we can do about it." Dad said.

"Yeah..." I muttered as I took a step closer to them.

"....Do you....ever regret not being able to spend more time with me?"

My Father's face softened as I said that.

"Of course. That's basically what I just said, but Himeko and your friends look like they're taking good care of you. Especially Kira."

"Yeah.....they are. I don't know what I'd do without them." I said, beginning to smile.

When I looked up, I saw my Dad whispering to my Mom. When they finished, Mom looked at me, but she had a strange look on her face.

"Neon, your Father wants to fight you."

"What?"

"He told me he wants to see how strong you are." Mom said as Dad started walking closer to me.

"Uh.....I don't think that's such a good idea....I'm not that strong like Kira is." I said, but at that moment, Dad punched me right in the gut.

"OW! DAD, ARE YOU SERIOUS!? I said I'm NOT strong like Kira is! She can take you!" I said, glaring up at him.

"You can't let Kira solve all your problems for you! Now get back up, Neon, before your hand gets pinned to the ground by my shoe!" Dad said.

I got up as quickly as I could, and just before I stood up, his shoe brushed past my fingers, making me quickly pull my left hand closer to me.