Page 76 of Carson

I rest my head over his chest, listening to the rumble of his voice as he speaks. It makes me feel like I’m floating.

“There’s nothing like seeing the sun rise over the Grand Canyon.”

“There really isn’t,” I agree.

“You’ve been?”

I smile against his skin. He forgets I’ve been traveling around the country for many, many years. “I’ve seen the sun rise and set in so many places it’s hard to remember them all.”

“Have you journaled your travels?” he asks.

“No, but I do have a map where I’ve marked all the places I’ve been.”

“That’s cool. We have this big map over at my parents’ house. They use push pins to mark their travels. I’ll show it to you sometime.”

We both get quiet after that. We’re exhausted, and before long, nature’s lullaby and the quiet chirp of crickets carry us both to sleep.

“I love you, Luna,” Carson whispers just as the sandman whisks me to another world.

“Luna, Luna, wake up. We don’t have much time,” my mom says, gently shaking me awake.

I sit upright in bed. “Mom, what are you doing here?” I ask sleepily.

She smiles and hugs me to her chest. “I love you, Luna.”

“I love you too,” I mumble, confused.

“This family needs you.”

“They need me?” I pull away to look into her eyes. “Mom, your eyes.”

Her eyes are glowing and filled with sunshine and rainbows.

“Teach them what you know,” she says, brushing my hair out of my eyes. She glances over her shoulder as if someone is waiting on her in the distance.

“I don’t understand.”

“They need you just as much as you will need them.”

Her eyes sparkle and it’s such a contrast to the darkness inside my van that I suddenly realize I’m dreaming.

“Mom,” I cry out, hugging her tightly, afraid she’ll vanish before I get a chance to tell her how much I love her. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.” Her voice is musical and full of love. I can feel it … hear it … see it … taste it. It’s incredible. I never want to forget it.

“I’ve got to go now, honey.”

“No, don’t go.” I tighten my grip on her, but it has the opposite effect, and slowly she slips from my embrace like sand in an hourglass.

Seconds pass as she dissolves in my arms. “I love you, Mom. Please don’t leave.”

“I love you, Luna. Take care of your new family and they will take care of you.”

The final grain of sand falls away, and all that is left is the scent of roses and an ache deep in my soul. “Mom …”

Carson gently nudges me awake. “Luna, Luna, you’ve been dreaming.”

My eyes open, and I find us both sitting upright in my bed.