The Balloon Has Gone Up

    Yearning to serve my country, I make the decision to enlist in the military. The journey begins with a grueling two-week boot camp, a crucible of endurance and discipline. Alongside my comrade Chad, we find ourselves thrust into the company of seasoned soldiers, their eyes reflecting the weight of experience and the scars of conflict.

    Together, we march to the battlegrounds, braving the horrors of war. The air was thick with tension, the deafening sound of gunfire, and the acrid stench of fear. Our hearts pound in unison as we face the unknown, driven by duty and the unyielding camaraderie that binds us.

    Yet amidst the chaos, tragedy strikes with a cruel and unforgiving hand. My mother, a beacon of unwavering support, ventures to visit me in the midst of the turmoil. But fate, ever the cruel mistress, unleashes its merciless blow. An enemy soldier, lurking in the shadows, springs forth and in a split second, snuffs out the light of her existence. Grief clings to my soul like a suffocating shroud, engulfing me in an abyss of despair.

    Despite the weight of sorrow that threatens to consume me, Chad and I press on, our footsteps heavy with determination. We continue to navigate the treacherous path of battles, our minds scarred by loss but our resolve unwavering. Each engagement, a reminder of the fragility of life and the sacrifices we make in the name of duty.

    In the midst of the turmoil, a small helicopter emerges, its blades slicing through the air like whispers of hope. The pilot, a figure of unknown origin, turns to me and beseeches for assistance. His request is simple—to wipe away the encroaching dust that threatens the delicate machinery while we soar through the heavens.

    In that moment, doubt gnaws at the edges of my conscience. I confess my lack of experience, my inability to fulfill the role bestowed upon me. The pilot, understanding the weight of my admission, nods with somber understanding. "I appreciate your honesty," he murmurs, the gravity of the situation etched upon his weathered face. And so, the opportunity slips through my grasp, the winds of destiny carrying me in a different direction.

    Regret lingers, mingling with the scent of gunpowder and the cries of fallen comrades. In this realm of uncertainty, choices are made and fates intertwine. I am left to wrestle with the ghosts of what could have been, the path not taken—a solitary soldier, burdened by the weight of an unchosen destiny.

I wake up. 

The Great Escape

Dream 9.19.2018

          A nearby forest is on fire and spreading fast. Our community comes together and escapes the coming blaze. Some of us are riding in a van. Others, including myself, are in an open trailer. We pass by my dad's house, which is a tent. We tell the driver to stop. The leaders tell us that we must keep moving. We stop anyway. I run into the tent to gather some personal items, and soon we are back on the road. We drive through unique areas and walk through different buildings.

          All of us stay in a shelter. My sister Amy is here. Without warning, ballistic missiles fall from the sky. Many hide under their beds for a last-ditch effort at survival. I do the same. I survive the first batch of air attacks, but more are coming. Once again, those of us who are still alive are back on the move. We crowd into a bus and drive away from the war zone.

          I become separated from the group. I go one way, thinking it's the right way, but then I watch as the bus speeds the other direction. It goes too fast, and I cannot catch up. I stand in the middle of a highway writing a story about an old woman who has a stalker. The man comes to her house often, and he is hostile. She locks the doors and readies her shotgun, in case it comes to that. One day the man arrives. I have yet to write the ending. Dream ends.

I wake up

Gang Wars

Dream 3/24/2016

Several teams come together to battle it out.

     We gather in my old church in Virginia. I am a team leader. At one point, all teams rush out into a cornfield and run from each other. We make it all the way to West Virginia. We will be coming out to the corn every day for the foreseeable future. I have a conversation with my friend, Lynch. He tells me that he has been to every state except for Maine. We talk about the harsh, cold Maine ocean water. I ask if that is the north Atlantic. He says it is. Lynch says, "it has salt in it so you know it's cold." I ask him if he and Jordan have been preparing to do the polar bear challenge. He says, "no."

     Each leader has to drive their team around. My license was suspended. I tell the main person in charge that I cannot be a leader anymore. I ask if their is any team that needs one more. Lynch raises his hand. I'm put on his team.

     I need some water. I look and finally find three water coolers. I push the knob on one and milk comes out. I hate milk. I've hated milk ever since I can remember. My mom told me that I wouldn't even drink it as a baby so she had to get a special formula. I wash the cup out and start again.

     In the middle of the church floor is a shaft that leads down into utter darkness. I mention to the man in charge that we need to have a challenge down there. Lynch agrees. Dream ends.

I wake up

The Art of War

Dream 2/7/2016

I've joined America's ARMY. They've shipped me off to a foreign land. I'm not sure what country I'm in. All I know is I am near Germany.

I'm heading up a team of undercover agents. They fill several seats apart from each other in a European diner. The mission is undisclosed. I walk down the aisle of the diner eyeing every agent. Speaking with a look. They know what to do.  Bullets shred through the diner walls leaving dust and debris everywhere. We've been compromised. The agents get up and try to escape. I help everyone that I can.

I walk through the barracks and find my bed. I lie down. The Soldiers are called to attention. I stay in bed. I peek through my covers and see the soldiers standing like statues at the end of their beds. The leader walks in. He questions why I am in bed. The others vouch for me being sick.

My kidneys don't work so I have to dialyze my blood. My nurse, Laurie, is here, she too is a soldier. A nurse I have never seen comes to my bedside and shoves a needle the size of a roofing nail into my arm. It's clear she doesn't know my access as she is pushing the needle in the wrong direction. She gives up and tells me to do it myself. I ask Laurie to do it. She comes over and fixes what the other nurse royally screwed up. Blood starts pumping through the line.

We are all awakened by the sound of gunfire. I undo my dialysis lines. The needle is still in my arm. I grab a handgun and move toward the window where Laurie has a sniper rifle. We start taking out men who encroach on our position. I find that my handgun is not effective for long range. I grab a rifle and one man at a time, I shoot. I kill many of them. We fight until the job is done. Dream ends

"It makes no difference what men think of war, said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting the ultimate practitioner." -Cormac McCarthy

I wake up

The Middle

Dream 1-30-14

Some friends and me are being chased through the woods. I don't know whose chasing us, all I know is that they are our enemy. We come to an ocean. On the banks of the water is a dock. Attached to the dock is a small motorboat. We run to the boat, climb into it, start it up and jam out of there. 

Moving across the ocean, we see an island. We head toward it. When we land on the island we notice that this island is not deserted. People live here. In front of us, just a hundred feet off the beach, are buildings. They don't have the luxury of the houses I know. They look like they were built by natives..

We walk into the village. Were accepted. 

That night, we have a bonfire. In fact, from what I notice, There are several bonfires throughout the village. 

When the sun is up again, we get back into our boat. We start toward the mainland. We make it past the ocean waves to the sandy beach. We climb out. We start walking back through the patch of woodland. 

We come across our people. They are at war as we speak. They are standing parallel to the enemy. Each side is shooting arrows at each other. I run to the middle land of where the battle is occurring. I try to stop the war between the two sides. Suddenly, I am shot through the chest by an arrow. I fall to the ground dead. Dream ends.

I wake up.