He got out of bed and headed for Jennifer's room. His hands were still trembling as he knocked on her door. "Come in," he heard her call out in a groggy, surprised voice. He opened her door and saw her sitting up in bed, shielding her eyes from the light.
She was so beautiful.
She was so alive. He had never realized how precious she was to him until this night.
"Ummmm," he stammered, "I had….I had a nightmare."
He felt suddenly self-conscious when he heard the frightened, child-like words come out of his mouth. He wanted to apologize for waking her and go back to his room but he couldn't. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.
With timid steps, he walked toward her and sat on the edge of her bunk. "Jennifer," he spoke softly as he took her hand, "I had a nightmare. The base was destroyed. You were…" The words caught in his throat as he fought back a strong flood of emotion.
"You were killed."
He couldn't hold himself together a moment longer. Tears came to his eyes as he took her into a tight embrace.
Shocked at his actions, she started to pull away but then relaxed and returned the embrace. "Jennifer, don't leave me. Please, don't ever leave me. I love you." Before she could respond, a loud beeping shattered the moment…….
Jon opened his eyes and bolted upright in his bunk. He realized where he was and slammed his fist into the alarm to silence it. It's been an entire year but the pain of Pilot's death was fresh in his heart. How could he move on in life when his own dreams betrayed him every night? He would face this day the with the same driving force that kept him moving every day since her death.
Vengeance.
He closed his eyes again and spoke softly, "I love you, Jennifer. I'll see you again someday."
His words reached through the spiritual realm to where his true love waited for him. "I love you too, Jon. I'm waiting for you."
A sudden peace came over Jon's heart. He got out of bed and started preparing for the day. He didn't know if he was going crazy or what, but he didn't care. All he truly knew was, that sometimes, especially in the still of the morning, he would swear that he could hear her voice and feel her presence. It brought him comfort and so he would continue to hold to it tightly and believe, that somehow, she heard him and was loving him always.
She was.