In my dream,
I was already distressed.
My outward expression, muted.

Two lab coats came to take my brother away.
I tried to spit on their windshield.
The one just laughed
as he turned on the wipers.

I walked back into the house.
A girl was eating our food.
She looked like shit.
I asked her who she was,
and she said so-and-so’s niece.
But so-and-so was not one of us.
I told her she was intruding,
and asked her to leave.
She refused.
I got forceful.
I shoved her out the door
and locked it.
She was still trying to get in.

I got into a van
with my fellow students
and we drove away.

She was in the van,
but no one noticed.
I screamed.
Finally, they noticed.

She took the form of a dismembered deer.
We tried to kick her out of the van.
It was no use.
She shape-shifted again,
and ran us down
with no remorse.

I emerged from the wreckage
and tried
to exert my will
over her presence.

She multiplied.

I was surrounded
by 4 dead junky girls.
They were covered
head to toe
in score marks.

They kept after me.
I was furious.
I demanded they leave me be.
For my people are plagued already
and it was no use
in chasing me down.

They bitched and screamed at me.
Taking out their dead frustrations.

I pleaded and pleaded.
Somehow, I got through.

My earthly sorrows were so great and vast
that their torment was powerless.
They could not compare.
I have known far worse
for far longer
and I was already dead
and suffering the eternal.

I think I spooked them, then.

I woke up.