“Have you ever had a dream that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?”

–Morpheus to Neo, in The Matrix

We were at Fordham Rd., waiting for the bus. It was dark out, early in the morning, but it was crowded – a lot of people were about. I’m not sure where it was coming from, but there was music in the air and we were ‘dancing’ to it – if that’s what you want to call it. We were really just goofing-off, jumping up and down and waving our arms in and near the street like a couple of clowns. People were giving us funny looks; my wife was embarrassed and wished we’d stop.

Suddenly I rushed to give you a hug, as if I hadn’t seen you in a very long time – as if I knew it was a dream and I would soon wake up. “I love you, bro, just remember I love you,” I said. You were a little surprised and laughed a little, hugged me back. “I love you too,” you said.

It was a good dream. I wish it would’ve lasted longer. There was nothing special about it, only that you were in it and that we were hanging out and having fun, just like we used to. Just hanging out. It was good seeing you and hearing you again.

It all still feels like a bad dream to me. I keep waiting to wake up from it, but I never do.