Everyone wanted to go skiing - but I never had before, so I balked - and once on the ski slope came to the shocking realization that a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of jeans would not suffice - I was told I needed a hat - a scarf - some microfiber pants - I couldn't afford it - so Emily led us around town - with lovely grace - almost like she was floating - I wanted to stay the Motel 6 - cheap - I was told there was a room to rent in the house across the street - it went for $978 a month - and naturally I complained - $978??? - but would it rent per night? - an elderly woman answered the door - so thin - waspy - she stood there translucent - light reflecting upon her aging skin - or was it shining through - her silver bun was pulled tight on her head - the shoulders slouched a little - and her eyes burned right through my heart - you're here about the room? - we nodded dumbly - from the outside the house looked like an old city house - with an upstairs apartment - but she led us through mazes of corridors and rooms - libraries - rooms thick with the scent of curry - there was a bathroom with a deep claw-footed tub - and a shower as big as my house - plush towels - silk sheets - and as she led us through the final corridor - the door opened - and we ran in slow motion - as in a dream - well, it was - our bare feet padded along the polished wood floors - every door had a long silk drape hanging over the entrance - heavy and rich in their decadence - reds - oranges - purples - greens - blues - stitched together with gold - birthed in light - as we ran the silk billowed and blew and our fingers brushed against the surface and I cried for the beauty - the air was so light - and I thought my heart might break under the weight of all that glory - people stood laughing in the doorways - welcoming and waving - and wisps of hair blew into my eyes as I turned to glance back.
And I woke up.
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