When Paul first woke
he was pretty sure he only dreamed he woke.
He realized he truly woke
by rolling over and looking out the window.
The thrashers fed their young in the nest.
He rolled back over to face his girlfriend.
Her side of the bed was empty.
Paul realized he had no one left to support.
His memories of that wretched moment
told three totally different stories.
The back of his mind stated all of them were sick lies.
Paul sat up and his head swirled.
He looked out the window
to a vacant spot in the driveway.
There was a map he needs in the glove compartment!
But there was a rip in the driveway where the car should be.
So the car needed mending.
Or was it his memory of the car that needed mending.
In the bathroom mirror a bandage covered his forehead.
Removing it revealed a long gash and seventeen stitches.
A false nurse appeared by his bed.
A real nurse appeared in his false room.
The thrashers were gone.
A glaring light daggered his brain.
Paul reclined in the bed and returned to sleep,
so he might wake from a different dream.
copyright © 2020 Kenneth P. Gurney
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