I close my eyes in an effort to sleep. Within minutes, within a field of quiet grey, observing eyes float centrally above me.
Still groggy, and later than I had hoped, I go from nap to shower with the memories of slumber.
While describing what I had seen, it manifested itself as a huge, transparent torus hovering in front of my head, containing the cold, dark ocean inside. Undersides of icebergs were seen. Shimmering light of the far-off sun. Sealife drifted along. The torus itself, undulating and growing with every word spoken through it.
Brushing teeth and taking vitamins.
My hands were (again) in and out of focus. Transparent in front of my face. Clouds of movement. Darkness prevented me from seeing what was beyond them.
Trying to impress by loading as many grapes as I can into my mouth. I am doing everything possible not to lose control.
Dressed, phone, wallet, keys. I am on my way to dinner reservations, a short walk away.
Water running into a street grate coming from an open hydrant uphill, up ahead.
Standing at the intersection, waiting for the light to change.
There is a car in front of me, waiting to turn left, towards the direction from which I came. Next to that car, there is a parked car. Behind the left-turner, there is a third car, honking. The honking car is trying to get the left-turner to pull forward so there is enough space to get in front of the parked car and continue straight through the intersection.
The street light changes from green to yellow.
Distracted by the honking car, the left-turner pulls forward and turns left in order to get through the intersection before the light changes. At the same time, a fourth car from the opposite side of the intersection increases speed and also attempts to beat the light. The left-turner and the fourth car collide in the middle of the intersection. No one was going very fast, and no one was hurt. The honking car made it through the intersection and kept driving.
When the light changed, I began walking across the intersection. Hearing the crash, I turned to see that there appeared to be much damage to both cars.
Further on my way, the smell of marijuana, its source not clear.
Outside of a light cone shining down on the sidewalk, against a building, a plastic container of green grapes, two-thirds full.
Two leopard skin high-heeled shoes with four-inch red stiletto heels.
And then a door became ajar.
This is what came to mind, in between the conversations, the pouring of water, and the eating of appetizers, while, in another city, she lay slowing dying.
