Goodbyes Before The Lights Go Out

Extract, from Cowboy Caleb.

I repeat, this story has nothing to do with me whatsoever. I just found it fitting, in a way, for this time of year.


"Goodbyes Before The Lights Go Out"

Last night, I had a terrible dream.

Some background first. When I was a spanking lad of about 20 years of age, I was already a upwardly mobile yuppie living in my own bachelor pad. One day during a party in my condo, a group of Chinese-Indonesian girls came invited by my Indonesian housemate. One of these girls, who we shall call Melia, kinda decided that I was a good catch or something. After the party, she would call me regularly and ask me out for drinks but I never went out with her unless it was with a group because I was a bit of a prick (more details later).

That was 10 years ago, and over time I lost touch with Melia. I heard she married some rich Indonesian dude in his 40s some time back but she was never the sort of person I really gave the time of the day to.

So last night, I dreamt that I was in my old bachelor pad. Melia was there with her original group of friends that came to the party where we first met. All the furniture was the same. Even the stains on the wall made by my drunken antics were all there as I remembered them. The light however, was pretty dim.

Melia came and sat next to me on the sofa and said “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you, to meet you again?”. And then she began fondling and hugging me, which made me uncomfortable so I moved away to another seat.

Then she told the other girls that it was a little warm in the room, and they all begun removing the clothes. Pretty soon they were all lounging around in their lingerie (the type with garters and belts).

Melia said “Why don’t you take a photo of us with your mobile phone?”

Since I couldn’t refuse, I aimed my camera and took the photo. To my horror, all the girls appeared in the photo except Melia. Thinking there was something wrong with my phone, I took another shot - but Melia simply refused to appear in the photo!

I began to panic, and then I asked the other girls if I could borrow their moblie phones to take another photo.

Melia then came and sat down next to me again. As she ran her hair through my hair she said “None of my friends have mobile phones with cameras…. so none of them know…. yet”

It was then that I woke up from my dream and sat up in bed!

In my heart, I know that Melia passed away last night.

Melia, wherever you are - I’m sorry I wasn’t nicer to you when you were on this earth. Thank you for letting me know. I hope your soul finds eternal peace.

Theee End.