Nightmare

 

I slept heavily last night

Deeply and troubled

The nightmare seemed to last forever

It was a combination

Of remembering a fright

Coupled with

A loved one’s visitation

Meant the images were doubled

Yes, a combination of things

There was a fall

In my recollection

That had happened

Three years ago

Almost to the day

Well nearly anyway

A painful journey home

From a holiday

The pain in my dream

Was as severe

As it was then

Three years ago

As if three broken bones

Ugly cuts and grazes

Were not enough to take

My dear sister in law

Rang as we drove home

I heard her clearly last night

My brother was very ill

She said, "Very ill"

My brother was with me last night

In the room near the bed

“Hello Baby” he said

At least he said that in my head

Same pet name from childhood

It wasn’t dark, it wasn’t light

The pain in my foot and arm

Almost unbearable I swear

He stood peacefully

No sense of fear or harm

As he stood quietly there

Looking into my eyes

 I woke up and found

That I was still in pain

Climbed out of bed

Without a sound

I limped out to the hall

Still in pain

Still

Then I heard my husband call

Calling back I said

That I had had a dream

That I was broken still

He told me it was in my head

Just a dream my sweet man said

Then fully awake

The pain slipped slowly away

To a level more bearable

I know not which had

Caused the most pain

Reliving my agony or

That my brother was gone again