I’m standing in a lush Wheatfield.
It stands waist-high. The wind blows softly.
It’s tranquil in this moment. I feel young and free.
I look to my left and see my best friend from when I was twenty.
He’s got his hand on top of the tall Wheat, letting it sway underneath his hand.
He stands in peace. Not a care in the world.
The wind blows through his hair.
I look to my right and see a Bell Tower made of stone.
It has Four Windows at the top with the Bell in the center.
The windows face North, South, East, and West.
While watching the Bell sway in the wind, I sense danger.
I see the barrel of a rifle show itself outside the North window.
I can’t see who is holding the rifle, but the one thing I do know is that it’s aiming right at my friend.
I take off, running toward my friend.
It feels like it’s taking forever to get to him. I know the gun is going to shoot at any moment.
I get closer and scream, “Get down! Gun!”
As I hear the “Crack” of the rifle, I dive on top of my friend, taking him down to the ground.
I look at his legs and see they’re okay.
I look at his torso and see it’s okay.
I check his arms. Again, okay.
I feel relieved. Then, I look at his head…
All that’s left is the bottom jaw bone. It’s dangling. Attached only by skin.
I open my eyes.
The cold Hardwood Floor underneath me.
My Dawg “Tommy” is looking down at me from above.
The ceiling fan turns and blows down on top of me.
I’m sweating.
Tommy makes a whining sound like, “Mmm-mmm-mmmm.”
“Oh, Buddy. Again? This floor hurts. You’re probably getting used to this, huh?”
I pull my body up and sit with my back against the lounge chair.
“Oh, my knee is bleeding. If I had feeling right there, I’ll bet that’d hurt. There’s some good to having Spina Bifida. Sometimes.”
“Mmm-mmm-mmmm.”
I grab a t-shirt and wipe the blood off of my knee.
“I guess this is the price I pay.” I pet Tommy’s head and face.
“See, the doc says I have to accept that I did all I could and there was nothing more I could do. She says then, these Night Terrors might go away.”
“Mmm-mmmm.”
“Stop licking my tears, buddy. I know you’re trying to help.”
“The thing is, I’m honest. I’m nice. I try not to lie.”
I throw the t-shirt into the dirty clothes pile on the floor.
“And I know… I know…” Shaking my head. “I know I could’ve done more. I should’ve done more. I know there’s more I could have done. That’s not going to change. Ever. I didn’t do enough. So…the ol’ doc and I are at an impasse.”
“Mmm-mm.”
I drag myself up off the floor.
“Ouch! Ow. My knee hurts.”
“Mmm-mmm”
“I’ll be okay, buddy.” I look to see what time it is: —3:14 AM.
“Let’s get some rest, okay? Lay down right here.”
“Good night, Tommy. I love you.”
“Mmm-mmm.”
