The December Dream – by Charlie Macias

She and I had a typical nutty conversation at lunch. She was my colleague at work and this was a usual routine. The topics went all over the place. We came to talk about dreams. I was given a dream challenge.

I remarked that I could never remember my dreams. I could remember dreaming, but not the content. She suggested that I will myself to remember my next dream. Each night this week I should give myself a little suggestion as I go to sleep: I will remember tonight’s dream. I was to do it every night until I actually dreamed.

So I gave it a go.

That first night was rough. I was not able to fall asleep. I tossed and turned. I remember looking at the clock and it was 2 AM.

Then I fell asleep.

I must have because I awoke to the morning light. And I could remember my dream! Half-awake, I smiled.

The dream I had concerned someone’s December birthday - a young woman’s birthday. It was a sad occasion since most of her friends and family forgot it. You see, between Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Year’s everyone is so busy. A birthday that falls in December just doesn’t get the same attention as one earlier in the year.

The dream was weird because it was like I was looking into this woman’s world, but not participating. Yet I felt her sadness at being forgotten and I felt bad for her.

I woke up and smiled that I remembered my dream, but I was not so happy that it was a sad dream.