Mr. Sandman

“Oh come on, Ray, get out of your room.”

Ray grumbled in annoyance under his breath as his friend Frank stood outside his bedroom door, pestering him about getting out of his room to go and ‘do something with his life’. Ray let out an irritated sigh, hearing Frank do so as well at this action.

“Goddammit Ray, it’s beautiful outside. And there’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight, so get your sorry ass out of bed and come see it with me!” Frank said, irritation evident in his face as he rapped on the door, to which Ray finally gave in and stood up.

“Fine.” He said, knowing that meteor showers weren’t that often around these parts. So he quickly changed into a new shirt and jacket, yawning widely as he wrapped a scarf around his next and slipped some gloves before carefully opening his door to his room to reveal the small punk rocker impatiently tapping his foot, wrapped up in a coat that was slightly too big for him and a hat almost covering all of his hair, who began to smile every so slightly when Ray finally stepped out of his room.

“Here we go. Finally.” Frank said, rolling his eyes and fully smiling now as he began to walk quickly towards the front door, flinging it open to let out Ray into the bitter cold New Jersey winter beyond. Frank turned right around and locked the door after himself with the key he let himself in with, and soon joined his friend out on the sidewalk outside of Ray’s house.

Frank skipped excitedly to keep up with the taller man, pointing down the street. “Okay, doesn’t matter, we’re going to the park. It’s supposed to get really dark in there, so we can see the shower.” Frank said, and it was clear that he would not budge on this. He loved meteor showers, finding them fascinating, which Ray could understand.

”Right, right, okay.” Ray said, stuffing his hands in his pockets as his breath misted and spiralled up in the air surrounding the duo as they headed down the street to the old park just down the way. Ray found himself looking with some interest at the Christmas and general holiday-themes lights strung carefully upon the roofs and gardens of houses around him, but he looked back at Frank after a little while. “What time is it anyways?”

Frank bit his lip as he looked at the time on his small wristwatch. “Uh, it’s like 9:30.” He answered, looking back up at Ray as he said so. “It’s supposed to be most noticeable soon, at around 10-11PM.” Ray rolled his eyes once more as he adjusted his scarf, shooting a slightly annoyed look over at his friend.

“Alright, whatever.” Ray said, and Frank huffed a little bit.

”Ray, you’re only angry because I basically dragged you out of your fuckin’ room, but I promise this is cool.” Frank said, smirking at his taller friend, to which Ray sighed and shook his head, keeping his mouth shut. Frank, noticing this, smiled even more. “There we go.”

~~~

They had both entered the old park and traveled down a trail in the forests surrounding the place, towards where Frank said was the ‘optimal meteor shower spot’, Ray just going along with his friend’s weird antics.

Both of them soon came upon a small clearing in the middle of the trees, and the instant Ray looked up towards the previously black and quite boring-looking (if Ray says so himself) sky he let out an audible gasp as his brown eyes took in the magnificent view just above him.

Cooler purples swam delicately with equal blues and pinks to form brilliant galaxies and nebulae painting the previously dull black nighttime sky. Stars littered the magical colours, twinkling and shining down upon Ray himself. “Wow.” Was all he found he could truly say in this moment as he sat down on the ground, never taking his amazed eyes off of the sky before him.

“Yeah, I know, cool right?” Frank said, playfully giving Ray a small shove as he sat down next to his friend. “It’s because there’s really no light pollution out here that you can literally stare off into space.” Frank added, itching at his buzzed blond hair, shifting the black mohawk out of his soft hazel eyes.

Ray felt a smile drag upwards on his lips as he finally tore his eyes off of the beautiful sky above him to look at Frank. “It is very cool.” Frank smiled from ear to ear as he said that, laying down and motioning for Ray to do so as well.

”And now we wait.” He said, yawning slightly as his big smile fell to a slight smirk. “And if anyone tries to come anywhere near here, I’ll scare ‘em off. Don’t want unnecessary humans here.” Frank said coolly, throwing a comical glance around for other potential humans, before settling back down and looking back up at the sky.

It was a while before either of them spoke, sitting in a comfortable silence as they waited for the first shooting star to appear. But it was Frank who broke the silence, and with an odd and seemingly out of the blue question. “Have you ever just felt… alone?” Frank said, looking down at his feet as he said that. Ray shot an understandably puzzled glance towards his friend.
”Hm?” Ray asked, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion as Frank sighed.

”I know you feel it too, bud, the feeling of just being alone. With no one to hold. Call me stupid, but… I don’t know.” Frank said, frowning. “Do you get me or do I sound really fucking desperate and cliche?”

Ray looked down at his feet as he mulled over what Frank had just said. It was true, Ray felt that longing for someone to love, feeling alone even with his friend. “Yeah, I get you man.” Ray said, Frank humming in response as he glued his eyes back up at the sky, waiting for the comets to start appearing.

It wasn’t too long before the two saw the first one, Frank letting out a squeal as his calloused fingers excitedly jabbed towards the streak of white glowing in the sky. “Look! The first one!” He squeaked, looking at Ray with a smile that could light up a town. “Make a wish!” Frank said, with ecstaticism evident in his voice. With the earlier conversation still in his mind, Ray almost jokingly wished for something.

I wish to find the man of my dreams. Ray thought with a smile on his face, eyes twinkling with the stars as the meteors began to rain down in the sky, the two watching in awe as they sat in the clearing, eagerly gazing up at the amazing ethereal light thatlit up the beautiful nighttime sky that surrounded them both.

~~~

”See, I told you that was awesome!” Frank said excitedly, skipping on the sidewalk next to his friend. Ray laughed, smiling widely as he nodded.

”I guess that was pretty cool.” He said as he walked up the steps to his home, the keys jingling in his hands like sleighbells. Frank let out a chuckle, waving goodbye to his friend as he stayed at the sidewalk.

”Good night! See you tomorrow at work I guess.” Frank said, waving as he started to walk down the sidewalk. But a question popped into his mind as soon as he started to do so, and he turned right back around to ask it before he was too far away from the other. “Hey Ray!” Ray spun his head around at his own name, giving Frank a look that said, ‘what?’. “I gotta ask, what was your wish?”

Ray let out a chuckle. “You know, if you tell someone your wish it won’t come true?” The old legend tumbled right off of his tongue as he inserted the house key into the deadbolt lock, Frank looking rather jokingly disappointed at his friend’s answer.

”Okay, okay, just curious.” Frank said, putting his hands up in a joking surrender. “Alright, goodbye!” Frank said in a farewell, soon heading down the street towards his own home. Ray smiled to himself as he opened the door, feeling a wave of sleepiness overcame him as he stepped inside and shut the front entrance to his home behind him.

Yawning widely, he threw his keys and extra clothing down on the floor haphazardly, rubbing his eyes as he walked down the hall, and he noticed with each step closer to his room he seemed to grow more and more sleepy. So much so, that Ray was stumbling against the wall as he entered his room.

Not even bothering the close the door shut behind himself, Ray practically threw himself into his bed and fell asleep before his head even hit the pillow.

~~~
It was cold. That was for sure.

I opened my eyes to see only… white. Well, white, and some lighter grays. But somehow, I knew all of this was one thing. Snow.

I could fell the snow crunch under my feet as I seemed to be… walking. Walking towards something, although I didn't know what it was.

But soon, breaking the rather monotonous whites and greys, was the faint colour of green. Walking towards it, in my vision, it began to grow clearer with each step, until I could make out that it was a tree. A pine tree, to be exact. Covered in snow, and with the outline of a figure sitting beneath it, back towards me Intrigued, I went to go and investigate.

The figure, strangely, was wearing a casual t-shirt and tight skinny jean combo, beanie hanging off of his head as his toned arms reached up to scratch at his golden brown locks of hair. He seemed to push something up his nose, which I could only assume to be glasses.

And then, his head whirled around to look at me, and I swear to God I almost fainted then and there.

He was absolutely gorgeous.

Everything about this guy was sharp. From the sharp lines of his cheekbones to his jawline that I swear on my life could cut diamonds. His nose was rigid and clean cut, lines on his face seemingly formed perfectly with sharp sculpting tools. Even the golden brown hair framing his face seemed to be made of sharp material.

But what wasn't sharp about him was his smile. It was so soft, so delicate, the way his thin lips stretched upwards to give me a million watt smile. I found myself smiling along with him, as if it were contagious.

But what really took my breath away in that moment were his eyes. Oh dear Lord his eyes. They were of a warm and soft amber colour, slightly crinkled with his smile, glowing with the ethereal light of the stars. I found I couldn’t take my off of this pure beauty before me, and I could feel my heart speed up even in this dream.

It was then that he stood up, fully facing me now, and I could feel my hands start to sweat even in the cold I was feeling. His lean body was sculpted to perfection, black skinny jeans hugging awkward, long legs. Although, instead of finding his weird knees to be weird, I found them endearing. Just added to this character before me.

“Don’t worry, Ray, I’m here.” He spoke, eyes twinkling merrily with the lights of the festive winter season, and I could feel my heart beat even faster as he spoke. I could feel warmth wrap around me as he continued to smile, although it was less toothy. “I’ve always been here. Waiting. It’s time you meet me.”

And that’s when I woke up.

Notes

kinda rushed on this but whatevs

hope you like it!!