plastic dreams

Perhaps it was the plastic that came with the brand new bed that made her sweat each time she woke up in the morning or in the middle of the night. They were too lazy to strip it from its pristine condition until the summer-like nights (summer-like because it was actually nearing December, but the weather was searing) came and there was no choice but succumb to the state it should be. With that out of the way, she hung on to a slim hope that she would wake up refreshed.

Of course she knew it wasn’t entirely the plastic that caused such hot nights, but the dreams. The dreams that always took a turn and left her tired and a little bit empty. It was always the case of someone running after her or her running after someone. Or running all over the place trying to accomplish a goal that she can’t quite put her finger to (she didn’t know what the goal actually was except that she had to get moving). And then feeling tired, not-gasping-for-breath-tired, but tired. The chase never ended in anything sinister or devastating, no. In fact the dreams always felt unfinished, begging to be asked what it meant and when the next part will come. What was all the running for?

In the physical world she searched for answers. She googled it because like many others even though she knew that the internet had a not-exactly-great batting average of being correct, being able to type it in that little window felt reassuring. Like she was doing something about it. Or maybe it will lead her to a forum of “dream runners” like her too. Or to a magic 8-ball that would give her the yes or no or maybe answer she wanted. She needed more than a yes or no or maybe, though.

“dreams about running”, she had typed. She wasn’t to be disappointed because the information superhighway had answers. Lots. She picked just one.

“Usually, in a dream of running in which fear is the dominant emotion, you will find that you can either run all night and successfully escape the danger (albeit with a serious emotional drain), or you find that you continue to falter and stumble, making the object of your fear even more terrifying. In the latter case, try to relate the dream situation to a situation in your life where you are feeling incredible pressure. Sometimes a simple change of perception can solve the problem”

She didn’t exactly feel fearful, but she did feel a certain sense or urgency (over what she didn’t know), like she was running after time and time was running away too fast. At the end of the dream, she always woke up abruptly, always feeling like the dream wasn’t over yet but here she was awake again. And still no answers.

Google has answers though.

“Sometimes a simple change of perception can solve the problem”

It says “can”, meaning it may or may not. But it’s at least worth a shot.

Now she just has to figure out which perception needs to be changed. Maybe when she does she’ll stop running and walk like everyone else.