My Brother's Farewell

In 1996, I was in a very unhappy relationship. As a result of an argument, I was estranged from my immediate family. The only person I remained in contact with was my brother, Jason. He was in the Air Force, stationed in Misawa, Japan. I worked nights, and sometimes when I arrived home in the wee hours of the morning, the loneliness would be almost unbearable. Sometimes I would call Jason, as the time difference was such that HE would be getting off work then, too. On Easter Sunday, I dreamed that I woke up and walked into my living room. My brother was sitting on my couch, dressed in the camouflage coveralls he routinely wore hunting. I was really excited to see him, and I said, 'How did you get here? I'm so glad to see you!'. At this point in the dream, time seemed to slow down and take on the surreal quality of some nightmares. I sat next to him, and took his hand. 'Why are you home?', I asked him. He took my hand, and an overwhelming feeling of grief and despair engulfed me. I had to look away. He never said a word, but as I gripped his hand tightly, something made me look up at him again. He was no longer dressed in the camouflage: he was wearing a uniform I had never seen him in; dressy, blue, and complete with white gloves. I woke up then, but the feeling of sadness remained. I fought with my boyfriend that day, and snapped at my roommate until she was out of patience with me. The next night, Monday, as my roommate a! nd I were getting ready for work, someone knocked at our door. My roommate answered it, and I heard a man ask for me. She looked at me, and I shook my head. I had a very bad feeling at that moment, and once again, time seemed to slow down. My roommate stepped outside with the man and closed the door, only to fling it open seconds later. 'Let him in, let him in!', she screamed. She had told the man that she was me, and to her he delivered the news of my brother's accidental death, on Easter Sunday, at 8:00 am our time; the exact moment I had dreamed it.