The Dreams Of A Man Asleep For Three Weeks

The Dreams Of A Man Asleep For Three Weeks

Mike Fahey

For a while after waking up, it was difficult distinguishing my sedation dreams from reality. As far-fetched as many of them were, they were such a strong part of who I was during my unconscious period that they felt less like remembered dreams than memories of things that never actually happened. There are real emotions tied to those visions. I recall being a murderous Batman villain and I feel guilty. To this day I think back to the desolate storefront from The Wasteland and my heart rate briefly quickens in panic. One of the reasons I talk so much about my dreams to friends and family is to confirm to myself that none of it was real. Part of me still isn’t sure.

It’s been a year since I was rushed to the hospital. A year since I went under for surgery and the parade of strange dreams began. The Japan dreams. The comic book dreams. The dreams of death and life beyond. Dozens of stories made up by my subconscious mind to help me deal with my faltering body, or at least distract me while it healed.

I still dream. In fact, I dream more nowadays than I ever did before. Sometimes I even find myself revisiting the less pleasant dreamscapes that emerged during my sedation. Only now I can wake up any time I want.