Last night I dreamed of Robert for the first time since he died. I had wished to dream of him, to see him again.
In my dream, I was sleeping and woke to find his naked body -- strong, no back fractures -- beside me. I sidled into his embrace, inhaling his scent (which I always loved, and which was vividly real in the dream!). Oh, he's just been away on a trip! I thought, trying to make sense of his beautiful body beside me.
Suddenly I started to sob to him, "I can't bear being apart from you! Let's stay together for the rest of our lives!"
"Yes," he answered quietly.
I looked into his dear face. He was gazing at me intently, lovingly.
"But how did you get here?" I asked him, suddenly thinking that our house was a long way from the airport. "I have your car!"
He looked at me puzzled and perhaps amused. Then he started to fade away and I woke up.
(photos by Robert's son, Mitch Rice)