The Dream
From under the covers Scheel felt the comfort of warmth and darkness. Feathers that individually would go undetected, collectively weighed enough to press his body down through the mattress and seemingly into the cold hardwood floor beneath. The down comforter and insulated curtains were necessary to block out the street lights just long enough for the dream to settle in.
It was the darkness that drew him in. Using deep breathing exercises he felt his body drifting, slowly. This exercise was his ritual and necessary. Sleep was so hard to come by and it was in these peaceful moments of solitude that he felt so light, so care free that the stress of work, relationships, and family, could just ripple and float away. As his breath slowed further he knew it was coming.
Under the cover of darkness Scheel dragged his fingers through the air. His eyes closed and still flat on his back he felt his body lift and hover. The drifting was always the best part, but the air rushing past him was too fast this time. The heat of the pull was intoxicating, nearly coaxing him. Looking to what he thought was his falling direction he began to reach out in slow motion. With nothing to hold onto Scheel could hear his heart beat in his ear. Like a whisper his voice called out, but no call reverberated through the layers of blankets. Was he somewhere new?
The air thickened as he fell; funneling his body toward an invisible target. Without sound to guide him Scheel stared hard into the darkness. His eyes strained trying to see something that might assure an end to this confusion. As sudden as the fall, lights began to flash. Vivid yellow and orange slashed his vision, shooting past him searching for a way to reflect back and give him some clue. Short bursts of white, muted brown, and grey smoke swirled down under his legs and back stopping him suddenly. Everything stopped. His breath. His free-fall. The lights.
The whisper he heard promising safety was not his. Like a baby on his side, Scheel was gently lifted from the cloudy depths until he felt the covers press against his face. Cradled by invisible arms his body began to descend to the familiar divot in his mattress. A soothing hum caressed his face and a pair of cool hands covered his tired eyes. Conscious of his dreaming state Scheel held his breath so as not to stir again lest his apparition disappear. Out of necessity he relaxed his body yet again and the presence vanished quickly with his exhale. Just the darkness and warmth remained.
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