Waking

I was just awakened by thunder after a non-refreshing two and a half hour nap. The room is dimly lit by the dark rolling rain clouds above my home. I have come to realize that we undeniably sleep our life away. When my eyes were open, the sun shone brightly today. Sometime, like a thief in the night, narcolepsy swept me off my feet, sealed my eyes closed, and rushed me off to sleep to steal part of my day. It was only for a moment that my dreams carried me to another dimension of my life.

Some days they are welcomed by the happiness and love they exude, like the days I flap my arms and fly aimlessly across the skies. I can swoop down and pull the hat off a pedestrians head and place it on the green parking meter seven step beyond his feet. But then, there are other dreams, those where I am attacked by a dark creature and I am defenseless because my body will not cooperate when I awaken. I open my eyes, hoping that it had left with my dreams, but to no avail...It is still in my bedroom, standing at my bed, clawing viciously at my throat.

If only for a moment, can I awaken to face a whole day. A day where sleep does not overwhelm me. A day where I can drive to the beach, and watch the seagulls hover over the crashing waves. I want to be able to close my eyes for only a moment, and not worry about sleep rushing in. One day, I know this dream will come. This is my favorite, most memorable dream. It is a dream of hope. Michael A. Wiggs