The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Deana laughed, “Where was your dream?”

Zara smiled and said: “In my dream, it seemed to be by the river where I liked to fly kites when I was a kid.”

Zara continued, “It was a strange dream, it seemed like the kind I had as a little girl, but I really didn’t mind it.”

Deana nodded: “What’s weird about this is that as the dreamer, you’re heavily invested in these kinds of violent dreams, but you feel absurd when you wake up.”

She then sighed softly, “Hey…in my life, I don’t know how many ridiculous and absurd dreams I’ve had.

I dreamt that the dead were still alive, and that my life was vastly different… ”

Zara looked at Deana and saw the regret that could never be erased on her face.

She couldn’t help asking, “Mom, do you regret marrying my dad?”

Deana was astonished, but smiled bitterly and said, “If you’d asked me when I was your age, knowing that marrying the man I did would be accompanied by a lifelong unwillingness, then no, I wouldn’t marry him.

But who I was then, and who I am are not the same person.

daughter asks me if I regret it, I definitely do

listened, her eyes rimmed in red, she understood

herself, marrying her father would be regrettable; because of herself and her brother,

that her true

quietly said, “Mom…thank

smiled, “Silly girl, what are

gently wiped away the tears from the corners of Zara’s eyes, and said seriously, “You are not me, but the same as who I used

cautious when choosing your other half

the world: Tall and short, fat and skinny, black and white, rich

things don’t matter, only finding

the right one and remember your

repeatedly, and said

moment, the doorbell rang

the guard coming

I’ll get the door.”

the room, opening it with the expectation that it would be