Sleep came surprisingly easy.  A dream followed soon after, 
though by then, Kenji's slumbering brain had shed the concept of 
time.

     "Don't be afraid," the voice ahead whispered.  Even through 
yards of fog, the silhouette appearing before him sounded as clear 
as someone inches away.  "Tell the fog to lift, and it will."
     "What?"  Kenji shook his head.  "What are you talking about?"
     "Tell the fog to lift."  The voice was young, yet peaceful 
and mature.
     "I don't think that I--"
     "Tell the fog to lift."  The voice was still young, but now 
neither peaceful nor mature.
     "But--"
     "It won't work if you don't tell it, okay?"  The voice had 
fallen to an exasperated growl.
     Kenji took a step back in shock.  "Umm, okay."  
     The voice recovered some of its composure.  "Now, tell it to 
lift."
     Kenji rolled his eyes.  "Lift," he mumbled at the fog.  A 
sliver of daylight appeared on his shoes.
     "Say it again," the voice coaxed.
     "Lift," he attempted.  The fog responded in kind with his 
increased intensity, rising to his knees.
     "Once more," the voice sang, "and you'll be free."
     "Lift!"  Kenji pushed his arms above his head dramatically.
     The fog lifted.
     And he saw the girl.
     She walked the mossy ground softly, confidently.  Holding out 
her hand, she whispered, "You're free now."
     Kenji took a tentative step forward, and instinctively 
reached for her.
     The girl's next step was actually a stumble, as she tripped 
over a tree root.  When she hit the ground, the dreamscape melted.

     Kenji blinked awake.  He felt warm, numb, like he was still 
wearing the cloak of an old lucid dream.  He lay there for a 
moment considering the dream, and wondering if he really saw his 
muse take a tumble at the end.
     From behind him, a tiny waking sigh alerted him that his 
cloak was more lucid than dream.

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                         *    *    *    *

                   I T ' S  A  R A I N Y  D A Y
                     S U N S H I N E  G I R L

                  A New On-Going Romantic Comedy
                   Of Students and Their Muses.
        From the Author of "Boku No Marie: Music-Box Angel"
                       Premiers May 3, 1999.
                              *    *

   "It's A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" (c) 1999 Matthew Johnston.
                       All Rights Reserved.

                         *    *    *    *
    visit the website: http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~matt2518/
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