Dreamland – Reality
You never know just where you are going to go on your journey. Occasionally it is the same trip, but most of the time, it is a different adventure.
The sun goes down and says goodnight. You pull your covers up real tight. If you feel that the trip might be a bit uncomfortable, you leave a light on by your bed. Most often, you just let your travel guide lead you off to dreamland and await whatever happens.
That particular night was not what I expected. Usually, it is a classroom scene or a hike in the mountains. It might be with people I know, either living or dead, or strangers I have never encountered. That night it was different.
It started in the usual way. I had the ability to fly. Where ever I was, I could just jump into the air and fly. I usually like those adventures, but in this particular one, I was not the superhero, nor was I enjoying the view of the scenery from above. I was being chased.
The problem was I could not see who or what was chasing me. Whatever it was, I was fleeing in fear.
That’s the thing about dreamland. There’s no script to follow. And when you are dumped in the middle of a plot without a script, and fear is what you are feeling, you don’t have time to process what is happening to make decisions.
So I flew. The ground below me was non-descript since my only concern was the pursuer. There was darkness all around me, and the air was damp as I zigged and zagged to elude my nemesis, who was getting closer and closer.
Though I couldn’t see it, I could feel its tentacles as it pushed close enough to touch me. I sped up. Distance was key; I needed to distance myself. What could I do to protect myself?
In this instance, I closed my eyes and thought about everything I had learned about protection. Masks came to mind. Lately, I’ve been wearing masks in crowded places for protection. Knowing distancing was important, I endeavored to fly even faster, but its pursuit was constant. Where ever I turned, it stayed with me. My only hope was to get to my sanctuary before it could. As I drew up to my home. An urge came upon me.
Note: One of the things that happen to us as we get old is that we inevitably have to pee at some point in the middle of the night.
Who knew that that property of age would be my saving grace? Dreamland just faded away. The memory of the chase lingered, but by the time I returned to my bed, it was gone.
When I woke up the next morning, I dressed, had breakfast, realized that I needed some items from the grocery store for home, donned my mask, and headed out to shop.
