Dreams

I've tried to put my dreams in writing and fall short every time. I either get ahead of myself or forget to add something important. My brain knows what is happening in order (i.e. a-b-c) but I tend to write about 'a' then jump to 'c'.  *sigh*  Which is probably why I've had very little published. 

Still, I'll try to forge ahead here.

Back in the day I used to have a recurring dream which was frightening and disturbing. It involved a fiery car crash. Each time I had this dream it would take me further into what was happening.  For instance, the first time I dreamt this dream it ended with a car exploding at the bottom of a hill, killing the driver. The next time I dreamt it, the driver had followed me home. The time after that, he was knocking on my bedroom door.

This dream went on for a long time. I tried to find out why I kept having this dream and why it continued.  Everything I found wanted to tell me what the dream meant.  Honestly, I had that figured out from jump.

More recently, I read an article that says: 

“We dream every ninety minutes throughout the night with each cycle of dreaming being longer than the previous.  The first dream of the night is about five minutes long and the last dream you have before awakening can be 45 minutes to an hour long.”
                                                           -Lauri Quinn Loewenberg (Woman’s Day)

My dreams have always been unsettling, even as a child. Pleasant dreams came along every now and then but for me, bad dreams outweighed the good.  So it was while I was in the hospital.

Here is what I remember:

I was being guarded by two giant trees. I am assuming they were trees as the trunks were covered completely with leaves. These trees had no branches or stems or any other protrusions most trees would have; just the leaves.

The leaf covered guards stood on either side of me and although they had no legs that I could see, we moved forward.  As we walked across an open field, a forest seemed to materialize far ahead of us. I had no clue as to where we were but the forest seemed to give me some sort of familiar periphery. I began looking about. I thought if I went right, it might take me home by a direct route; if I went left, it would take me out of the way but I could get home nonetheless.

How I knew this though surprised me.  I saw no roads or buildings. No landmarks were visible.  All I could see was the field we were walking in and the forest up ahead.

I tried getting ahead of the guards but immense pain brought me to my knees; gasping for breath.  They waited patiently for me to get back in formation.  

As we got closer, the forest, dense with every tree imaginable, seemed frighteningly dark.  I know if I go in I'll never come out and decide to make my move.  Bolting to the right, I began to run.  The pain was searing but I didn't stop.

                                                           >>>>>>>><<<<<<<<

I was sitting cross legged on the ground.  A campfire in front of me offered warmth.  A man sat on the other side of the fire, head bent over his hands; his hood hid his face.  He seemed to be making a rope.  

A breeze came through pushing at the flames of the fire. The trees around us made hushing sounds.  I saw the two guards, now not so gigantic and obviously at home among the lush foliage of the forest.

Pain shuddered through me and I held my breath waiting for it to pass.  The man looked at me.  I tried to identify the pain as I waited for him to explain, but he lowered his eyes and said nothing.

As he worked on his rope, the spasms of pain continued; so bad at times I cried.  Then, I realized he was talking to me.  I couldn't hear beyond the pain.  I think he wanted me to do something but I didn't understand.  The pain was so intense yet I couldn't pinpoint where it hurt.

Weariness swept over me and I let my eyes close.

>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<

I found myself walking with the man from the campfire. My pain had subsided but was not completely gone. We were walking through the forest.  I knew the guards were close by, I needn't look back, I could hear their movements.

The man explained about a key I needed to find.  If I found the key, I was free to go home.  

I looked at him.  Still unable to see his face I asked what the key looked like.  He stopped and sat on a rock.  I could feel a wave of pain rush over me, but I wanted to go home.  Apparently, I was moving on alone.

Not so alone though, the guards were behind me.

>>>>>>>><<<<<<<< 

Afraid of what I might see, I slowly opened my eyes. Leaves. All around me were leaves.  I carefully sat up. I had slept in the crook of a young oak tree. It was night.

The hunter’s moon shone bright against the darkest sky I had ever seen. Moonlight tipped the trees across the way and below, a creek mirrored the moon. I smiled then covered my mouth.  I was afraid of the peace I felt.

But nothing happened.  I smiled again.

>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<

I could feel my body tremble with cold and opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was a key hanging on the wall.  Desperately I reached for it and realized I was bound with some sort of straps.  The straps tightly fastened the calves of my legs, my thighs, forearms and chest.  I could move my head, my feet just a little and my hands but to what end? 

I was lying on the ground in a hut not much bigger than myself. Light filtered through cracks on the wall where the key hung. I needed that key! I tried to reach it with my right hand and saw that I could almost touch it. A wave of pain moved through my back and shoulders.

With very little room to move I tried to wiggle onto my side but that pulled my hand away from the key. I struggled to move downward and I did but just a fraction. Still, it was enough for me to try reaching the key again. I could touch it! I could just about get it between my fingers!

I thrashed back and forth trying to get closer to the key. This time I was able to move it upwards just a little with my middle finger. I just needed to lift it off the hook. Pain shot through me and the key fell against the wall but I was determined. If I could get it off the hook it might slip down into my hand.

Carefully, I stretched my finger and wiggled it under the tip of the key. It felt stable so I crossed my index finger over my middle finger securing the key between them. Thinking the grooves of the key would allow some control I slowly moved my fingers up.

It was working! I nearly had it! Sweat began to trickle down my face. I was suddenly hot. All I had to do was get that key over the tip of the hook and I would be free. I blinked back the sweat and the key fell away. Great cries of weariness flowed out of me. I was so hot!  

Someone was over me ripping something out of my throat! God help me! The pain!  I struggled, trying to scream then saw what came out of me. Bloody and frightening.  What were they doing to me?  I was so afraid!

Then suddenly, it seemed as though someone tore a blanket off of me.  I was so certain of this I looked to my right to see who it was but no one was there.

I slowly looked around then to my left. Jeri was there.