Floated Away

Written for Melissa’s flash fiction challenge.

Dream therapy, but with a twist.

Her doctor assured her it would help her sleep, but she wasn’t so sure. How could they piece together the puzzle of what came to her mind when she finally drifted into her strange imagination?

‘I saw an orange floating around in the air. I was hungry and tried to eat it, but I couldn’t. It floated away the closer I got to it. There was nothing else, just a silly song it sang.’

‘When did these dreams start?’

Alice shrugged her shoulders, truth was, she wasn’t sure. ‘I used to have them when I was younger, but it stopped when I had my children. I always made sure they had enough to eat. I remember when I was a child, my mum sent me to bed without dinner. Dad used to sneak – I mean, it was always fruit, but I was told to be quiet, so nobody heard me.’ She picked up a tissue, and the memory of being alone resurfaced.

‘How often did that happen?‘

‘Not every night, only when I argued with my stepmother. It was always fruit of some sort, cause he wanted me to grow up strong.’ She smiled, the memory of her dad strode through the darkness. ‘It didn’t last long, only a year. He put me first, but he was so alone. I felt guilty, like I should have behaved better. Dad always said he made the mistake. He loved me, and we were so much happier. What if I was to blame, all for a piece of fruit?’

‘I know your dad thought the same, because he made sure you were safe. He wouldn’t have left her, if he thought he had any choice. He put you first, because that is what you deserved. No child should go hungry.’