My Salvation [Ch.01]

Chapter 1:  Meeting you the person I can't see.

Narrator PoV 

This story is about Salwa's journey in proving the credibility of her love for the man she met in her dream. It all started on that day. The day her fate starts to change. That day was on her 17th birthday night.

On her 17th birthday, the day went by like any other day. There was no celebration nor a happy birthday said to her. It already became a common thing to Salwa. Even though it was always happening to her for a long time now, Salwa can not help but feel lonely. It is not like she did not have anyone in her life. She still has her mom, dad, and an older brother. Her family is also on good terms with one another. Her family rarely fights but is not that bubbly too. They are a harmonious family that is full of serious people.

Salwa lives in a good and wealthy family. A family that many people want to grow into. However, not all wealthy families make their children live happily. That is also the case for her. Her parents always left her at home to work, and now her brother also left her to live in their big empty house unattended.

It is not like she did not understand the reasons behind them. She understands them. She knows that all her parent does is for her and her brother's future, and her brother left home to work out of town. She keeps reminding herself that she can not be selfish in keeping them by her side, but she can not help it to feel this way.

For a long time, she had realized how people saw her and her family and how the people were envious of her life and her situation. It was burdensome, but also made her more conscious of how weak her mind is. She was incapable of withstanding every problem she encountered. But she does not want to show it, she wants her family to see her as a strong girl they are proud of.

'I just need to keep silent, not voicing even one of my thoughts and feeling to them.' that was what she said to herself every time. She thought she was fine, but she forgot about the limits of her ability to withstand everything. She forgot that every people has different limitations.

Finally, on her 17th birthday, she knows her limit has reached rock bottom. She could not withstand it anymore. She had given her family a chance to make up for the loss of their presence on her birthday. She had wished for at least a congratulation to be said. But no, she is still alone that day, with no congratulation received and no presence of her family celebrating with her. That night, on her desk in her dark room, she put a cupcake with only one candle lighting the whole room for her. No one was there accompanying her. And when the time reset to 00:00, signaling the new day in her life, she blows her candle with a single wish in her mind. She did not want to be alone.

"In the name of Allah, I make my wish for the rest of my life. Today, the first day, I turned 17th years old. I don't want to be alone. Please give me someone who will love and be there for me, who never leaves my side. Someone who will become my home, my place to express my pain and sorrow. I won't mind even if it is just one person, whether he is far or near, he is good-looking or not. I don't even care whether he is rich or not. I don't care. God, If you send me one of your creations, someone who won't leave me alone like today again. I promise you. I will love and accept him however he will become later on. I will always be there for him and become his home, a place where he can rest and show all his pain and sorrow... please, god... please give me one of your creations..." She mumbled to herself before she blew the candle.

Once the candle was blown, the pitch darkness greeted her. It was cold and silent, just the sound of the air conditioner accompanying her, feeling the void around her. With the still silent atmosphere, she decided to crawl back into her bed and shut her eyes for the night. At that time, she did not know how the world around her will change sooner or later.

Two years later, on the night of her 19th birthday, Salwa received an unforgettable gift. This gift is the starting point of all the events that will happen in her life. That day, was a tough and stressful day. She only wanted to take a rest after all the things that happened at her school. She cleaned herself, changed into her pajamas, and rested her body on her warm and comfortable bed. She covered her body with a warm blanket and hugged the mysterious plushie that she found in her locker room after her afternoon class that day. She did not know why, but she wanted to sleep with that plushie so badly. For once, she falls into a deep sleep. Forgetting all the burden on her body, and accidentally missing her birthday night that day.

She didn't know for how long she slept, but one thing for sure, she slept for a long time. At least that is what she felt. The ray of the sun that touches her face softly is so warm that makes her want to sleep some more time. But the itchy feeling on her face and the chirping sound of the birds make her wade awake. It's just strange for her since when her dad has a bird, and how can her warm, soft, and comfy bad become so itchy?

She opened her eyes, and she found that the plushy was still in her arm, but the pillow and the blanket were not there. Of course, she did not sleep on her bed either, but she slept on the lush green grass, which was surprisingly comfy for her to sleep on. It's also a surprise for her to find herself calmer than ever, even though she has just woken up in a completely different place. But one thing she noticed; someone was watching her from a far distant tree.

Salwa PoV

I opened my eyes. I did not know for how long I slept, but one thing for sure, I slept for a long time. At least that is what I felt. If it is not because of the itchy feeling and the chirping sound of the birds that make me wide awake, I would like to sleep some more accompanied by the warm ray of the sun that touches my face softly. It's just strange for me. Since when my dad has a bird? and how can my warm, soft, and comfy bed become so itchy?

I opened my eyes, the plushy still there in my arm, but the pillow and the blanket were not there. Of course, I did not sleep on my bed either. I slept on the lush green grass, which was surprisingly comfy for me to sleep on. It's also a surprise for me to find myself calmer than ever, even though I just woke up in a completely different place. But one thing I noticed, someone was watching me from a far distant tree.

"um.. hello...?" I tried to greet him. But there was no response.

"Hello? Nice to meet you... Sir?" I tried once again, but no, there was no response. It feels uncomfortable to be left in silence like that. After waiting for a few minutes, I got up from my spot and walked closer to him. The closer I get, the clearer his figure becomes. He is a tall man with a strong built body. I would believe it if he said that he works in the military. His jaw was not that sharp, it's quite plumpy and squeezable for me. But somehow he gives out a dignified aura around him. He is cold but warm at the same time. I don't really know either, what is the reason behind that warm sensation. But for sure, that warm sensation is the sole reason I want to know more about him.

"Hey... " I tried to speak to him again. I did not expect any reply this time either. I just kept walking toward him, but surprisingly, this time he responded.

"Let's meet again later, honey..." He replied and stopped hiding from behind the tree. He smiled softly and gave me sad melancholy eyes. Once again, I was confused, and before I opened my mouth to ask once again, he was gone, engulfed by a flash of blinding light from behind him.

"Wha-What does that mean..." I mumbled to myself. All of it was too sudden for me to understand. Before I knew it, my surroundings became monochrome. There was no other noise, the only thing I heard was the sound of my alarm clock ringing.

3rd PoV

In a monochrome world, Salwa kept hearing the sound of the alarm clock she put off. It's not a long time before she wakes up and finds herself lying in her bed, sweating and panting. She lay there silent, trying to recall the dream she had. But no, there is nothing left. She is one hundred percent sure that it's not a bad dream. Proven by how the warm feeling still lingers around her.

She kept trying and trying, but nothing changed. The memories of her dream are still gone. Nothing came to her mind. Everything about the man she met was forgotten, only his gentle voice and warm feeling remaining with her. She did not understand why, but she want to feel those feeling again.

She did not realize that her tears had fallen down her cheeks every time she was thinking about him.

'I don't even know him, but why do these tears keep falling? I am sure for a hundred percent that this is not a bad dream, but why do I keep crying?' she thought to herself. She brought her hand to her chest, crumbling her pajamas. While she cried, she prayed to the god.

'God... I do not know why you give me this feeling... It warms but also sad at the same time. I feel like longing for something that I did not even know... Oh, God... I do not know why you keep me away from all the happy things... I just ever wished to be happy, and not to be lonely... Now, you have given me the feeling that will make me happy, but why do you keep teasing me by taking something I cherish... I just want to be happy.. so God... May I ask you to keep this feeling for me? please do not send it to other people, please... send it to me... I am TIRED... Now, even in my sleep, you still made me sad... ' She keep on crying and praying for a good half an hour later.

Since that day, Salwa keep on having the same dream over and over again. But the man in her dream never appeared. She waited and waited, but she waited in vain. Days change into weeks, and finally, at the end of the third week of dreaming the same but different dreams every single day, she gives up. The dream she always dreamed to have, never come. It is always just an empty forest without him. She is tired of waiting and hoping. And for the last time she woke up with a single tear falling from her eye, she wished,

"Oh god, the one who create and give me life. I trust you the path that you made, I will follow whatever path you guide me... so please answer me... If that man really someone who will love me, someone given to me... then I will love him unconditionally... But if he is not for me, then thank you god... for giving me the chance to feel the warmth of his presence." she mumbled to herself, giving up at the last straw of hope that she has. But it seems like the god did not allow her to give up on him, because as soon as she start to open her eyes, a familiar gentle voice rang in her head. The same voice she missed for almost a month now. She knows that others might think she is crazy, but she can't help it to believe the warm feeling that once again blooming in her chest.

His voice sounded so far away at first, but slowly it become clearer.

"Salwa... Salwa..." The voice keeps calling Salwa's name. Each time her name was called, the warm feeling in her chest grew warmer and warmer.

"Salwa... I'm sorry for making you wait..." Continue the voice. That's all Salwa needed to cry her heart out, spelling out all her feeling.

"It is ok now... I will be here for you.. even though we are in different dimensions right now... But I will be there one day... and I promise you, I won't leave you no matter what until that day comes." The voice ended. Salwa, who hear that cried more and more. Until, she feels enveloped by a big warm embrace. At that moment Salwa understands and accepts everything.

"Yes... I understand... I will be waiting... My salvation" Salwa whispered to the passing wind.

"... Let's meet again... In my dream" She finished her sentence and woke up to continue her day as usual.