Dreaming Alive (A Poem From Mason's POV)-New Scene From RED Included!

As most of you already know, RED will be released on February 14, 2015. I thought it was clever to release it on Valentine's Day since the name of the book is RED and...well...you know! Anyway, along with a new character profile every month, I'll also release a poem that is inspired by a scene or page from RED. I think it's a good way to help readers gain a better understanding of the emotional effects certain scenes have on the character. The first poem is called "Dreaming Alive" and it's from Mason's point of view.

Last night I dreamed of you while I was awake

And I prayed to the Lord my soul He'll take

Just so I can be back with you

Do you know what it's like to dream while alive?

To see the damning images deep inside your mind?

But it was worth it because I was with you 

The sparks in your eyes, they were still there

But the fire spread and you disappeared

I'll burn all over again just for you

My eyes are wide open and my heart has been closed

I can't love another because you're all that I know

And I wouldn't have it any other way because of you

I tasted your mouth and you tasted mine

I think we forgot all about the time

But life always worked that way with you

Last night I dreamed while I was alive

But in reality you were on the other side

What I would give for you!

Because last night that dream brought me alive...

Here is the scene from RED, Dreaming Alive was inspired from. It's a scene where Mason dreams of his lost love Taylor (from A Tragic Heart).

 ***

Every time I try to close my eyes, I see her. I keep trying to think of something new, but she won’t get out of my head. Sixteen years and she still haunts me.

I wake up to the smell of breakfast so I quickly get up and brush my teeth. I practically rush down the stairs before something stops me in my tracks.

“Hey, make sure your dad is up. I know how much he hates having to heat up food,” I hear her voice say from the kitchen.

I’m afraid to walk in and be disappointed. It couldn’t be. Is it all a dream? Did it never happen? For a second I feel relieved but then realize that when I open the kitchen door it wouldn’t be her.

I stand in front of the kitchen door for a while before pushing it open. I close my eyes and say a short prayer before viewing what’s in front of me.

“Never mind!” she calls out. “You’re right on time,” she says with a beautiful smile. The smile that’s been imprinted in my mind since the first day we met.

“The smell woke me up,” I say relieved that she’s standing there in front of me again. “Is this real?” I ask her a little confused.

“Last time I checked,” she sounds just as confused as I feel.

“Don’t ever leave me again,” I say touching her beautiful face.

“I won’t. We were young before, it’s different now. I love you.”

“I love you too. I always have and always will.”

She leans in and kisses me passionately. We almost get carried away but the smoke that fills the air reminds us that she’s cooking.

“SHIT!” I yell opening the kitchen window and turning the fan above the stove on.

She laughs a little and tells me to watch my mouth. I stare at her for a long time before she acknowledges it.

“What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?” she asks never wiping that smile off of her face.

“I just had this terrible dream,” I say unable to take my eyes off of her.

“What was it about?”

“I don’t want to bring it up again, but I dreamed that after Peyton died you fell into this deep depression and…” it’s hard for me to say it even though I know that it never happened, “you asked me to watch Peyton for a while, and you never came back. You left me in the worst way possible. I found you on your apartment floor covered in blood. It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

She doesn’t say a word. She just looks at me with glossy eyes as if she’s trying to hold back tears.

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to bring it up again,” I say before reaching out to touch her.

She moves away from me and tears fall from her eyes.

“If I knew you loved me this much I would’ve never done it. I regret it every day,” she says through her tears.

I don’t understand.

“I’m confused, what are you talking about?” I ask still trying to move closer to her.

“I would have given you a second chance. You deserved it. I ruined her. I ruined everything! You’re doing such a great job, Mason. It’s not your fault. You’re not the reason why she’s so angry. It’s all my fault! I just wanted to see him again but now I’m stuck!”

She moves back towards the stove and I yell for her to move out of the way. The stove catches fire without good explanation and quickly spreads across the kitchen forming a barrier between us. I try grabbing her to pull her with me but I can’t get to her.

“Don’t leave me!” I yell back at her while reaching for her hand. “Please! Don’t leave me again!”

I jump out of my sleep more startled than I’ve ever been. I look over at the clock and see it reads 5:45 am. I quickly get up and walk to Peyton’s room. She still isn’t home. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end and I can’t relax. I walk into the den on the top floor and try to relax by watching some TV. I can’t get that dream out of my head. I say a short prayer and whisper to myself, “Baby, wherever you are, I hope you’re safe and happy.”