**A Warning from a Dream: The Story That Changed Everything**
Emily was busy preparing preserves—pickling mushrooms—when the doorbell unexpectedly rang. Her husband, William, wasn’t home; he’d gone away on business and taken his keys with him. The only other person in the house was their daughter, Sophie. “Who could that be?” Emily muttered, wiping her hands as she walked to the door.
On the doorstep stood a boy, around ten years old. A stranger. Neatly dressed, with a backpack slung over his shoulder, his eyes were serious beyond his years.
“Good afternoon,” he said politely. “I need to speak to your husband. Is he home?”
Emily hesitated. “Hello. No, he’s not here… Can I help you?”
“No. Only him. It’s important.”
Her chest tightened. She didn’t know what to say.
“I’ll come back later. When is he usually home?”
“He comes and goes… Who are you, anyway? What’s this about?”
“Nothing yet. But it could be. Goodbye.”
Emily watched the boy leave, baffled. Why would this child need William? And how did he even know him? The rest of the day, she couldn’t shake the unease. That evening, when William returned, she told him straight away.
“A boy came by today. Around ten. Said he urgently needed to speak to you. Didn’t say anything else.”
“That’s odd. I don’t know any boy. Must have the wrong house.”
“No, he mentioned you by name. Said it had to be you personally.”
William shrugged and went for a shower. But Emily couldn’t shake her worries. Who was this boy? Could he be… William’s son? From another woman? William had relationships before her—one name came to mind: Claire. Years ago, he’d nearly married her. What if she’d been pregnant and never told him?
The next day, she broached the subject carefully.
“Will, remember that woman you almost married? What was her name?”
“Why bring that up? Ancient history. Claire.”
“Just curious. You know about my ex, but I barely know yours.”
Emily searched for Claire online, but no results came up—she must have changed her surname. There was nothing to do but wait and see if the boy returned.
A few days later, William announced a sudden business trip.
“Just a town over. No one else would go, so the boss asked me.”
Emily tensed. William hadn’t traveled for work in years. The boy’s words echoed in her mind: *”Something might happen.”* Her gut screamed that something was wrong.
Then, the night before his trip, the boy rang the doorbell again. Emily quickly invited him inside.
“Listen, tell me what you need to say to him. I’m his wife—I’ll make sure he hears it. What’s your name?”
“Oliver. Look… My mum told me in a dream to warn your husband. He can’t go. Or he won’t come back.”
Emily’s blood ran cold. “Oliver, what are you talking about? What mum?”
“My mum died five years ago. But she visits me in dreams. Warns me. Nan says we’re connected… She loved me so much. I’ve never met my dad. But lately, Mum’s been appearing more. She gave me this address. Said only *he* could hear it.”
Emily sat frozen. This was too real to dismiss.
The next day, William left. Emily tried distracting herself with chores. Then, in the afternoon, her phone rang.
“Em, don’t panic… I’m fine. But something strange happened.”
“What?! What happened?”
“I was driving, listening to music. Suddenly, a woman stepped into the road. Out of nowhere. I swerved—hit the barrier… The car ahead of me went airborne. There was a crash… People died. *I* should’ve been there.”
“Oh my God…”
“No idea who she was. Just vanished. But if not for her… I wouldn’t be here.”
That evening, William returned home.
“You don’t think… that woman could’ve been—Oliver’s mum?”
“Emily… That’s just coincidence. Some weird twist of fate.”
“No, Will. It’s not.”
The next morning, William’s face paled. “I remember now. Five years ago, I passed a burning house. People were too scared to go in. I couldn’t stand it—ran inside. Pulled out a boy. His mother… didn’t make it.”
They visited the address Oliver had given. His grandmother answered.
“Yes, he lives here. My grandson. You saved him that day. His mother… she’s gone. I’ve thanked God for you every day since. He doesn’t remember much. Just photos. But she visits his dreams. Never mine.”
*She saved me.*
The grandmother handed them a picture. There she was—the same woman William had seen.
Oliver walked in.
“Hello. Mum said you’re alive. She’s glad. But she said… you must never take that road again. She won’t save you a second time. You have to remember.”
William knelt. “Thank you, Oliver. And thank your mother. Would you… like to spend time with me? My daughter’s too young for fishing. But you and I could go. Football too. Whatever you’d like. What do you say?”
Oliver nodded quietly. Emily wept—grateful to fate, and to the strange truth that sometimes, even dreams can save a life.
