Dreams.

“I had a dream last night, it was so vivid,” my father said. “Your mom was in the dream—I dream about her often—but she wasn’t the main character. She’s never the main character.”

“Mm hm,” I replied.

“I was trying to get home. I was worried. That’s why I’m always looking for your mom when I dream because she is at home, she is home.”

Because we were on the phone he couldn’t see the smile on my face and the sadness in my eyes.

“I finally know how to find her, but then a lot of water—a flood—comes rushing down the street. The water is so high that it comes up to my neck.”

“Whoa. That must’ve been scary,” I said.

“No,” my dad said. I could hear him smiling. “In Chinese culture, water in dreams means money.”