I Had a Dream

In my dream, I was feeling ill
heavy
bloated
slow-moving
weighed down

I went to the doctor's office
where they did some tests and seemed quite concerned
but also unsure of what to do next

So they recommended more tests from
more doctors
and told me to get with the front desk to find out details of where to go

The trip to this new place seemed to take a long time
I just remember feeling more and more weighed down
bigger
as if this illness was literally making me rounder
larger

The directions led me further from a developed city and
further into the woods
until I was literally on a path in the woods

At the "end of the woods"
or so it felt
there was a beautiful
oddly-shaped tree

I felt I was supposed to climb it
but by this point
I was totally worn out
I felt even more tired
uncomfortably physically larger
my legs were tired
my hands were swollen and I just couldn't do it

On top of that
there was a storm brewing
the wind was menacing
leaves were whipping around like vengeance

Then
the wolf showed up

In my fear I began climbing the tree

Up I climbed
further than necessary to escape the wolf

Up into the blowing leaves
with the limbs whipping around
threatening to knock my tired and gravity-soaked body to the ground

Having secured a large flat branch below me and
with the tree against my back
I stood up and stretched out my arms
enjoying the terrifying wind that was flowing through the forest
like an out-of-control river.

As I stretched out my arms and stood there
autumn leaves blowing all around
parts of "Me" were blowing off as well
all that bloating and excess that I had accumulated
were blowing off just like the leaves that were blowing off the trees

I began to feel lighter
less weighed-down
more invigorated and still the wind whipped off bits of me to flutter away

Finally I reached a point where I was so light
so freed from gravity
that I knew I wouldn't be able to stand there much longer

And so
I fell

But by that time, there wasn't much of "me" left and
with the sky clearing and the wind lessening to a gentle breeze
I floated down to the ground below like just another autumn leaf

Although I thought I was dying by then
it was an exhilarating and freeing fall to the forest floor
that seemed to last a very long time