The dream last night had seemed so real...

The crystallized droplets fall from the sky. Little flakes dance in the endless gray sky above me. I tilt my head back to feel their icy touch. Softly, they drop to the ground around my feet. The flakes fall on my face giving me tiny frozen kisses. Everything is so peaceful in this valley. My head falls back to its previous position.
I scan the snow covered valley. The trees are lined with virgin snow creating white skeletons against a gray backdrop. My eyes close allowing my other senses to roam free. In the distance, I can hear a sad, sweet tune. I allow myself to be overcome with the melody. Tears well-up in my lashes before freezing as they drop to the ground. My eyes open and blink away the stray tears. Slowly, I make my way towards the voice.
As I walk, the snow plays at my feet. Gradually, it encompasses me in a curtain of flurries. My hairs billows in the wind. The voice steadily becomes louder, such a sad, sweet tune. Tears nip at my lashes again before I force them back down.
Soon I find myself on the outskirts of a frozen lake. Beside me I notice a young woman atop a rock. She seemed so sad. Why was she so sad? She kept singing her sad, sweet tune.

I pray you'll be my eyes
And watch her where she goes
And help her to be wise
Help me to let go
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe
I pray she finds your light
And holds it in her heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind her where you are
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Need to find a place
Guide her with your grace
Give her faith so she'll be safe
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe…1

Her words echo in my head. More tears form in my eyes but this time I let them fall. The young woman turns her head in my direction. Her beautiful green eyes were brimmed with tears. She stopped crying, her blue lips curling into a smile. Carefully, she makes her way to me. I’m not frightened as she embraces me. I smile despite myself. She seems so familiar. I feel safe in her embrace, I never want to leave.
She reads my expression and laughs. It was like tiny bells had rung at a church service. I laugh along, alto and soprano in perfect harmony. Her hand gently touches my cheek. She’s so cold.
“My darling child,” she sighs.
The young woman takes my hand and traces the lines. She digs into her pocket and pulls out a small, heart-shaped locket. The gold was cool against my skin as she places it in my hand. She curls my fingers around it before kissing my forehead. I open it to reveal a tiny picture of the young woman and a young man leaning towards each other. Both leaning in for a kiss but not making it in time before the picture took. In the middle was a small child with bleach-blonde pigtails and jewel-blue eyes staring up at the young couple. Her little arm extended toward the sky to reach her parents. Such happiness in one little picture.
“I am so proud of you,” the young woman whispers.
She embraces me once more before I find my self in my room curled up in my bed. I look around to see where she went. No one is here but me. I stare out my window. The moon radiates off of the freshly fallen snow. My eyes fall upon a small glimmer of gold on top my nightstand. I reach and pull a small, heart-shaped locket. The dream flows through my memory like a river. Or was it a dream? I open the locket and stare at the same tiny picture within. A smile forms on my lips before I place the locket back on my nightstand and cuddle into my warm bed. Slowly, I drift back to sleep hoping to see my mother once more.

1) This is the song: A Mother's Prayer by Celine Dion.