In dreams part 2

He looked up into the sky, through the parting of the leaves. He could see the rays of sun coming through, almost radiating his stance. He looked into the trees, where she had left him. He wanted to run after her. He wanted to take her into his arms, and beg her to be with him. He knew this wasn't possible though. He took a single step forward, debating in his head, whether or not to chase her into the great beyond. His mind was made up, before he stopped his feet after the first step. He began sprinting into the wood, calling for her. He came to a small opening, which led to a 'fork in the road'.  

"Where did you.." He began to say to the woman who had just left him.

At that moment, he heard a twig snap relatively near him. He turned with a start, and saw something else that came to his surprise.

"You look good.. Then again, you always did." The familiar voice of Kelly Jackson told him.

"Kelly. What are you doing here?" He asked, surprised to see her.

She advanced on him, smiling gently, and taking his hand in her own.

"I thought you were in El Paso?" He said imploringly.

"I am. But you needed to see me." She replied.

He looked at her, almost confused. He let a smirk break out on his face, as he asked,

"So is this the real you, or something my mind just made up?"

She laughed slightly, dropped his hand, and replied,

"This is the me you needed right now."

She smiled sweetly at him. Almost seductively, she took his hand again, into her own, and raised it to her face.

"Isn't that enough?" She asked softly.

"What I need, is to find out what's happening to me. Yvette told me I was afraid. In a way she was right. I suppose I'm just letting my past eat away at my future, and I don't want to let some things go." He replied to her.

She turned her back on him, letting go of his hand. She began to walk slowly, with her arms behind her back. He followed slowly, as she began to speak,

"We've all been through trials and tribulations in our life, Derick. We've all experienced things we swore we'd never get through, or never could understand. You went through some tough times in your past. Whether those times had been with your family, or with your friends. You always felt a strong connection to all those that were close to you."

"Like you." He said before she could go on.

"Yes Derick. Like me." She said, as she smiled.

"The truth is, Derick…" She began, now averting her gaze, as though she were about to break some bad news.

"The truth is that you still regret some things. You regret not taking bigger chances with the people you cared about. You regret not being there for the people that really mattered in your life. You regret not taking chances with awkward Asian kids in high school."

At this, he laughed. He could recall a crush he had on someone who fit said description before. It amused him, the fact that Kelly should bring it up.

"But seriously. I know that sooner or later you will run into someone who made a difference in your life. And when you do, you will have a single chance to change someone's life. Whether it is your own, or someone else's remains to be seen. I came here to tell you that you don't need to doubt yourself. There are plenty of people, no matter where they are, or where they go, that love you dearly." She told him, advancing on him, getting closer and closer to him.

"I'm here to tell you… You shouldn't be afraid. Never be afraid, Derick…" She leaned in on him, and kissed him tenderly on the lips. He closed his eyes once more, and took it all in. His spirits were lifted a hundred-fold. He could feel her part from him. As he opened his eyes, she was gone, and once again he was alone in this Eden-realm of his. He looked up into the sky through the clearing in the trees. He closed his eyes, and let the rays of the sun above embrace the contours of his face, and the form of his body. What more could he do now.. Besides wait for another visit from another person he loves…