Dream From Last Night: Eleven

Opening my eyes as though waking from a pleasant nap, I realized I was in the old tan pickup. My father, to my left, shifted into a higher gear and the truck rumbled down the road. My mother was sitting to my right, watching the grass dance with the wind. On our right and left endless expanses of grass and cacti stretched out. The windows were rolled down, and a hot breeze whipped around us, tangling my hair in my face.

"You nodded off, sleepy-head," my mother teased. I smiled at her, happy to hear her voice. I looked at myself in the rear-view mirror, and a long-limbed girl with big glasses and a mouthful of braces stared back. My hands--they were small, my nails were coated in bright blue nail polish. I was wearing a tie-dyed shirt with an old VW bug on it and shorts. I noticed the orange friendship bracelet I had on my ankle. It had been broken more than 7 years ago.

I was eleven. Again.

"What day is today?" I asked my father.

"June 14th, I think," he replied "Why?"

"Just wondering."

We continued driving. I knew this date had some sort of significance to me, but I couldn't place it. My father and mother exchanged casual conversation, mentioning how dry the earth looked and how outrageous the gas prices were. A long time later, still in the pickup, my side started hurting.

The pain grew until I couldn't breathe. It spread throughout me and set me on fire. I couldn't feel my hands but kept clutching at my side. My heart beated faster and faster. I gasped for air, trying to scream but silent in agony. The sky grew dark.

When I awoke, I laying in a hospital bed. The pillow crinkled uncomfortably underneath me. As I stirred, my mother came to my side.

"How are you feeling Beth-Bug?"

"I'm ok," I said quietly, looking around. "Where's Daddy?"

"He went to get us something to eat. He'll be right back," she said. "You've been asleep for a couple of hours. You're a little sick; rest, ok?"

I leaned back into the crinkly pillows and breathed deeply. My chest still hurt. She looked worried, but didn't seem interested in telling me what had happened.

I must have fallen asleep again, because the next thing I remember was a nurse was shaking me. I opened my eyes to see her a few inches from my face; she had a calm face but concerned eyes. She was shining a light in my eyes.

"No response," she said.

I couldn't move. I could hear someone yelling, someone's footsteps. I felt numb.

I looked at everyone. My dad was there, my grandmother, my aunt, a flock of nurses and a doctor or two. My mom was gone. As I was looking at everyone, I turned and looked at myself. My mouth lay gaping open. My skin was pale, my eyes wet. I felt very far from my body. I felt sorry for myself. I was no longer in pain, but she--myself--looked like she still hurt. I stood there, looking at myself, moved out of the way by a nurse. The nurse reached over to my body and closed my eyes, and everything went dark.

While everything was dark, I understood that my consciencousness had gone to the next "parallel" universe. I thought that I knew Everything; it was as though I understood Everything.

When I awoke this morning, I was sitting up, stiff, arms layed out in front of me. I had a pounding headache. My room was still a mess, just as I had left it. "Too much Sci-Fi, I guess." I laughed. I pressed my alarm clock, stretched and began the day.