The dream is always vivid.

Oh no, I’m such a bad friend—I haven’t written or called Merritt in forever!

And it’s always the same.  Except for last night.

I haven’t heard from him in forever.  Should I write or call?  No, that would be assuming too much.  I’ll text Marlys instead and maybe she’ll let me know how he’s doing, too.

(Never mind that none of them had cell phones until after I married into the family, and that even I didn’t text until very recently!)

I feel terrible.  How could we go so long without talking?  How could I lose touch with my best friend?

And then I wake up.  Slowly, I become aware of the deep breathing next to me. 

I’m married to him!  He’s the speed dial I can call any time of day.  We don’t have to write letters or have those hours-long phone conversations: we sit across the table from each other at every meal, we fall asleep next to each other every night.

I turn my head to watch him sleep.  I can’t resist pulling him closer.  And I hug him a bit tighter when he wakes.

Five-Minute Friday: Vivid