Aurora Magazine 2018

Dream

K A T H R Y N D O W N E Y

I’m on the run. But I have to see Mom because she is sick. She doesn’t leave the bed. Food expires at her bedside ta- ble. She stays at Grandma’s but it’s a different house now. There are many rooms and Mom is in all of them – different versions of her. In one room, it’s Mom from a long time ago. She still remembers my sister’s name and is asking for her. In other rooms I see the gradual deterioration, but she always knows me. The real Mom is in the bedroom. She never leaves the bed. As I enter, she moves, cooing in her sleep Mom voice how excited she is to see me. She wants the latest. I tell her I went on a date. She says she knew it, she could just tell. She wants to know everything, but I just remembered I can’t stay. They are coming for me. I kiss her and tell her I’ll be back. I gently close the door behind me. I’m at my grandpar- ent’s. It’s small, not many rooms. They’re there looking at me in pain. Like a sorrowful, “just want to keep you safe look.” I’m not sure if they know about the things I’ve done and that they’re out looking for me. They might. It maybe it’s the look they’ve been giving me ever since Mom died. I look just like her.

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