Emily knew it was a dream .. and stranger still, she knew that it wasn't even her dream. It was her mother who was asleep and Emily was the visitor in that sleep. But knowing it couldn't change it -- and besides, hadn't she wished for this?
Emily was clinging to her mother's hand in the dream. "Mommy, come and see!" She was saying. "Come and see!"
"I'm coming, Em," Mommy laughed. "I'm coming! You're just so fast!"
"That's 'cause you've just got to see him, Mommy!"
"Who?"
"The horse!"
They had reached the horse who was grazing in the meadow. He was a pony, really, coal-black with a white mark on his forehead. Emily could barely contain her excitement. "Mommy, look! This is my pony! His name's Angel! Isn't he great?"
"He's great, baby .. but where did he come from?"
"He's just mine! Aunt Missy said so! Mommy, will you stay with Angel and Aunt Missy and me?"
"Emily .. where are we?"
"Then you could have a pony and a meadow and Aunt Missy too!"
"Emily, can you tell me where we are?"
"Don't you know?"
"Em--" she stopped, and Emily knew that she did know. And that she didn't want to stay. Emily stopped smiling.
"You're not going to stay, Mommy, are you?" she asked.
"Emily, honey, you know I love you, don't you?" Mommy asked.
Emily solemnly nodded.
"Then you know that I'll come back. But I can't stay now."
"Why not?" She tried not to pout.
"Remember my friend, Mulder?"
"Mr. Potato Head?"
"Right." She smiled slightly. "Well, he's holding my hand right now, Emily. And he's crying. He thinks it's his fault that I've come here and that I've left him for good. Emily, I love him so much. And if I stay he's going to think it's his fault forever. I can't let that happen ... Do you understand?"
"Yes, mommy ... I understand."
"I love you, Em. And I'll be back soon. But until then, you take care of Angel and Aunt Missy for me, all right?"
"Okay."
Emily kissed her mother's hand and then watched her walk away toward Mr. Potato Head.
END
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