Wait a Minute
It’s that dream again
I’m running, faster, faster
He got me with his knife
sliced deep down my sternum
the blood trickles around my hand
as I keep applying pressure.
I had to run; I never win hand-to-hand
but if I can get through the door
I can usually force it shut
maybe long enough to lock it
He’ll slam his fists on the door
struggling to open it
I resist but I never find out if I can lock it
My alarm always goes off at this moment
like a rat trained to run through a maze
I move through the motions of
morning routines,
shower, dressing, a quick breakfast,
and as I open the door to leave for work
He’s back!
I slam the door shut
heart drums loud in my ears as
he screams through the oak wood,
pushing hard to get through
I feel it give and the door swings my way
and I push back harder
sweat trickling down my neck
My alarm goes off
Wait a minute—
I wasn’t awake?
Get out of bed completely drenched,
pinch myself a couple times
has the dream come to an end?
it’s never lasted quite so long.
I’m late for work.
The day feels like a blur
a water colored painting
with splash effected corners
my coworkers crack their jokes
as we drink our pick-me-ups
they remind me to pack the shipping.
Wait—
Haven’t we done this before?
Just the other day it seems
I pack the box and hand it to the FedEx guy
It’s him again! Shut the door!
It creaks and slams as we go back and forth
Blood trickles down my chest
did he really cut me this time?
If the door could give a little more
I might be able to slide the bolt
and lock him out once and for all
My alarm goes off
That was still a dream?
Am I awake this time?
Missed three calls from work,
gotta move fast, be there as fast as I can
run to the kitchen as I hop into my pants
grab some buttered toast off the plate
as I run for the door
Wait a minute...
Copyright © K.R. Wonder | Year Posted 2022
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