The Dream

The wind whips across the grass, sending stray leaves flying into the air. You watch a young girl, of about thirteen, sprint out into the grass, dragging her older sister by the arm with surprising strength for the ‘lady’ she was supposed to be according to her mother. She leaps into the air to catch one of the autumn leaves dancing through the chilly breeze… Upon getting a hold of one, you watch the young girl say something to her sister but for some reason you can’t seem to hear it. Yet her sister is able to and rolls her eyes, mouthing something snarky back. While you’re still unable to hear, it seems this time the girl either cannot, or is ignorant of it. Either way she sticks out her tongue and giggles inaudibly before making her way into the looming forest.
The sister calls after her, this time you can hear her shouting out what’s apparently the young girl’s name: “Andrea! Andrea! Come back! You mustn’t get your dress dirty whilst playing these childish games! You’re nearly fourteen! This is unfitting behavior for a young lady, you know?!”
The sister’s voice comes out sharp and clipped. Her tone carries enough authority to make even a king bow, yet, this isn’t deterring the girl from her expedition into the depths of the shadowed forest. Instead, the girl tears the hem of her dress violently, maintaining eye contact with her sister all the while shredding the fabric with yanks and pulls. It takes little time until it’s just above her knees instead of covering her ankles as it formally would.
“There!” Andrea retaliates, smirking back at her sister. “Now it can’t get dirty!”
Feeling thoroughly exhausted from her sibling’s shenanigans, the older girl gives up. You watch her roll out a picnic blanket and sit down. Her gaze follows her sister as she frolics in the fields and climbs trees. You notice that while maintaining the facade of deep resentment towards her sister’s behavior, the older girl often derives gratification and solace in watching her sister so free and in her element in the moment unfolding before her.
You spectate as Andrea runs and climbs and frolics until she reaches the point where she can’t run anymore, and by then the time of vespers is quickly approaching. She climbs down from the tree branch she was perched on and hastily retreats towards her sister.
“Did you find joy in your diversions, Andrea?” The sister inquires, packing up the blanket she was lying on.
You watch as her sister ruffles Andrea’s hair, further disheveling her locks more than they already are. Observing that Andrea–Andy seems to be drowsy and sluggish, she picks her sister up. Balancing her weight on both her arms, she wraps her arms tighter to not lose her grip…
“You’re really heavy… I can hardly lift you up!” She grunts, hoisting Andrea higher up on her hip, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead as Andy drifts off to sleep. Yet, you’re aware of something Ashley, the older girl, isn’t. Those few words… will endure within Andy’s consciousness well into adulthood, echoing far beyond the boundaries of youth.