Dream: Half-Asleep

9/8/2023

I looked at a creature of black chitinous flesh writhing behind the bars of a large vent in the wall. I could hear the whirring fan and see red emergency lights behind the silhouette of the creature. I used a screwdriver to release the vent’s cover, but then the larva lunged at me. I feel hot riveting pain in my chest and look down to see a terrible bleeding wound. The thing must have taken a huge bite out of me because there is a gaping baseball-sized hole in my torso. The depth is unknown due to the copious flow of blood.

The crew helped patch me up, filling the wound with stinging gauze. They order me to rest and refrain from strenuous activity. I agree and return to my room to rest. I limp to the library shelf to pick a book to read while I lie in bed. But then I hear a voice in my head. A voice that is not my own. “You’re just going to stay here all day?” Well, of course I was going to stay here all day. Even if it weren’t for my injury, I don’t have any plans that require me to leave my chambers. Besides, the medical staff need to keep an eye on me. We weren’t able to locate the creature that bit me, so we don’t know what it was or if it had something like rabies. “You’re just gonna sit in your room for the rest of your life and wait to die? Is that really what you want to do with your life?” This hit deeper than I would have expected. I’m not entirely sure what I wanted to do. But I could be certain that I didn’t get much of a sense of fulfillment from sitting in bed all day reading books. I wanted to do something with my life. Make a difference. Rather unfortunate the timing of this new resolution. I’d be bedridden for a few days, maybe even a week or two. By the time I’m recovered, I’ll have almost the will to search for new dreams and desires. “Then why wait? Walking around might slow your recovery but it’s not like you were gonna do anything if you recovered lying in bed. Besides a little bit of pain, there really is no reason not to explore right now.” I felt truly inspired. I followed my motivation and left my room to see the outdoors.