Dreams

***Cold, wet nose.***

I haven't walked around the lake since she left. That same lake we'd walked a thousand times, where now I called and called for her, looked down on the banks wondering if I'd find her struggling. She wasn't talking to me, she'd talk to me. Must be asleep. Maybe forever. Outside. Alone.

She swam in that lake a lot. There's a canoe there, and when I'd get in it and row, her still on the dock, she'd talk and yell, wanting me to come back. Distraught. She'd dive in to come get me, swimming, swimming, swimming to catch me. I'd come back, never wanted to lose her in the lake.

Distraught, both her and I.  Rural darknerss, her ears deaf to my voice, my light only a spark. Forever at peace, possibly.

Back she will come. Strong, full of will, a little tired. Light will arrive, we'll get through the night.

Cursing the clock.