Two nights ago I dreamt that the world was ending. At first, we simply all knew of it; heard it on the news. A plague was spreading across the globe and there was no way to sop it. It would kill all humans, and only humans. The symptoms began several weeks before death and involved various types of suffering. In this, it was similar to Nevil Shute's "On the Beach", though these symptoms were very strange and took much longer. Talking to Sam while walking towards a Centro bus, I told him all about "On the Beach" and marked various points of ironic similarity. I told I regretted never having asked him to read it. Later (or perhaps before... who knows?) Mom and I visited Sam's apartment and I noticed a man who was undergoing chemotherapy, and at first wondered if he had the plague. I also wondered if my mother might let me go to Sam's house so that I could die with him. I think it was then that I awoke, wondering at the strangeness of my dreams, and then dropped back into sleep. Into the same dream. now, though, we were in a convenience (or similar) store. Mom and I and Sam and his mom and several ambiguous classmates were there. There they distributed poison to end the suffering of those for whom the pain was too much, and there we learned more about the plague. We had a month to live. I told Sam that since (in my dream) it was August 8th, that meant that we'd all die before the start of the school year. I then asked the girl at the counter for pen and paper so as to record what was happening. I knew no one would be there to read them, but as I explained to the others, the writing made me feel better. Then I held Sam close to me and for the first time I was afraid to die. I whispered in his ear, "I hope there's nothing after this," though I don't know why.
Shortly after that I awoke again.
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