Leslie.....

She was the most beautiful woman I had seen in my life. Tall, long legs, perfect body, long dark hair , and a wonderful smile. She walked down the hall to pass me, obviously in contest mode. Her attitude had switched from the sweet girl I knew to all business as she prepared to go downstairs and go on stage in her skimpy string bikini in an attempt to win $500.00. I had known her and become friends with her over the past few years as we both worked at the same club. Leslie was every guys dream.

The only problem was that she was dead. What the hell was she doing here now? It was impossible and here she was walking past me, saying hello, and concentrating on walking sexy in her high heels. I was confused. It was impossible for her to be there. She had died of cancer almost 9 years ago. Yet here she was. This was wrong and I didn't know what to think when I suddently realized how surrreal it all seemed.

It was then i figured it out. I was dreaming, but this was real. There she was, yet it had to be a dream. I ran back down the hall and stopped her. I had to tell her. I said" Leslie please wait, I need to talk to you". She replied, "you have to be quick, I'm going onstage in a few minutes". I asked her "how did you get here?". "What the heck do you mean, I drove myself" she excliamed. I was getting flustered, as I said "You should'nt be here". She said "Andy your a goddamned retard!" I was almost in a panic as I told her, "Leslie, we have been freinds for a long time right?" "Yes" she replied. I continued, "You know I would not screw around with you. We are friends and I wouldn't lie to you" She agreed. I said, "well then you have to believe me. I thought you were dead. You should'nt be here".

"Now I know your nuts" she said, obviously getting pissed. So I grabbed her by her shoulders and held her tight as I told her that I knew she had gotten sick and didn't make it. I also told her what her life had become. Fallen in with the wrong people. Pulled into the life of a porn actress by the lure of money and fame. That I had been to her funeral.

She could tell I was dead serious and began to be afraid and started to cry as some part of what I was saying had sunk in. She maybe was starting to believe me. I asked "Wait a minute, what year is this?" She said "1990". I was shocked because as far as I knew it was 2009. Nineteen years later. I again thought I was dreaming, but suddenly I felt something was changing. My God! I thought, I'm waking up, I have to tell her. "Leslie, I stammered, you have to go to the doctor right away". "What for" she asked". I said "You have to go to get checked for ........

"No WAIT, Stop....Noooooooo!

I awoke shaking and listening to the sound of my wife's quiet snoring. I lay there for a few minutes before the alarm went off. It was all a dream. I was back in the reality of 2009. When the alarm went off. Sherri got up from bed, stretched and asked if I wanted breakfast before we left for the day to go shopping. I said" nahh, we will get something out" After a few minutes, I got dressed and went downstairs. As I sat in my favorite chair to tie my shoes, the sound of my cell phone ringing and Dean Martin's crooning voice broke my thoughts. I picked it up and a familiar voice said "You guys up, I'm pulling up out front. You're still going aren't you? "Yes", I replied. A few seconds later, I answered the door and there stood Leslie. At age 45, her bikini contest days were long gone, she had a tired, look about her but still had the same pretty eyes and bright smile. Seems years ago, she had been warned in a scary way by a good friend that she had better go to the doctor to get checked. They found the cancer when it had just started and after a few monthes of treatment she had beaten in entirely. In 2009, Leslie was alive and well and been friends with both of us for years. To our kids she was "Aunt Leslie".........

.....and then I woke up for real. It was indeed 2009, and Leslie was still in her grave 9 years now.
I cried......