Daily Dreaming

I was standing in the middle of a forest blanketed by snow. The pine trees were spaced out enough that I could look up and see the grey clouds above, and a light dusting continued to fall regularly to the floor. It was bitterly cold and I was determined to find shelter as soon as possible. Heading off in the direction I was facing, I walked for some time without any sign of life. The snow reached up above my ankles and I wasn’t wearing appropriate footwear, so it was hard to keep a regular pace.

As I started to tire, I noticed that the trees further ahead were thinning out. With a last burst of energy, I pushed through until I reached the opening. Once I had a better view, I could see that the clearing had been created artificially. Someone had built a small fenced enclosure and tilled the ground within. Thin stalks were growing out of the soil, lifeless thanks to the weather so that I couldn’t make out what kind of crop had been planted. Still, I welcomed a sign of humanity in the midst of the bleakness.

Taking a pause by the fence to catch my breath, I considered my options. I could keep walking with no guarantee of finding anything, or could wait here with no guarantee that anyone would find me. Before I could make up my mind, my body decided for me. My legs suddenly gave out and I slumped to the floor. An overwhelming tiredness took hold of me and I started fighting to stay awake. I realised now that I had been too cold for too long. Slipping slowly away, I took a last look into the thick grey clouds above.

—

When I came to, I was on my parents’ road – as I had found myself frequently over the last few weeks. This time it was a brilliant summer’s day and now I was too hot. I made the familiar walk towards my parents’ house and as I walked, I saw two girls sat at a table playing a game of some kind on a neighbouring drive. I recognised them both from my school days and went to call out, but my voice caught in my throat. I stopped awkwardly, then turned and walked quickly past them. Neither one seemed to notice, but I felt embarrassed all the same.

I spent the rest of the day out of the heat, but every so often I’d pass by a window and notice the two of them playing and laughing away. I don’t know why I was so apprehensive about going over and saying hello, but the more I thought about it the worse the feeling became. In the end, I missed my chance and the dream faded into a long and lazy summer afternoon alone.