Short Stories

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I woke up to see a bright, golden rectangle on my bedroom wall, as shiney as a mirror. Sun light peeking through the side of the heavy curtain that kept out the street light, but now filling the whole room with a warmth that lasts a few minutes.

I have just opened my eyes from a dream and in just the right time. Just floating on a boat with someone steering and rowing from behind, so I could see the scenery. From the shore, we enter the deeper water, that takes a sharp dive where the fault breaks, where the water shifts it's planes. some buildings are left intact, most are submerged. It is just a one story shift in height that breaks into uneven places. Near to the top, with it's pipes, we enter into what looks like a maintenance room, I am steered in a half-circle. I find myself discovering small palm-sized tropical fish. They are white with warm but pale stripes. Some are invisible, even their bones, but with transluscent orange and yellow stripes.

How could we be on a layer of water, yet submerged in water? I realize I am seeing and breathing freely and wondering why with no goggles or oxygen tank. With that question, I become vividly aware I am in a dream as mezmerizing as watching a cloud float.

The only sound I hear is the sounds of my thoughts which are only heard in my head. All is stillness except for the slow movements of the boat and fish. My voice says "There's one." and "Oh, some of these are invisible." and "They're running into me now."

My eyes fix stronger after the first few transparent fish bump into me and then one gets caught near the cuff of my pant leg. It's fins raise in defense, pricking near the bone of my ankle.

I wake up to see my room layer into golden brightness.

H. Stone

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