July 01, 2004

I had a dream that woke me up.

I was at some hotel that had an open pavilion type thing in the middle.
Water fountain, palms, multiple hallways leading to different parts of the hotel and elevators, an open ceiling like a sky light without glass.
I wanted to leave, I needed to leave but I was told I couldn't go back to my room to get my bags and I could not just walk out the main entrance because they couldn't be held responsible if I got hurt.
What? Hurt? From what I demanded. I recall screaming at the bellhops and front desk people.
What, how, could I possibly get hurt?
People, other guests at the hotel started sitting on the chairs and sofas and on the floor locking arms with each other.
I was told to do the same so I sat on the floor near a hallway and locked my right arm with some older man leaving my left arm free.
I heard the noise before I saw anything.
It was loud and booming and people stared up at the open ceiling and started to get excited like they were waiting for fireworks.
The noise got louder and louder. It was loud and booming and like a jet engine.
I looked up to see what could be coming our way that had these people interlocked and thrilled.
The nose of a jet fighter came into view of the open skylight and the noise was deafening.
It wasn't right on top of us but so close you could feel the power of the engine and the heat coming off of it.
It hovered above us and people cheered and then it took off.
Then more came into view and people did the same thing.
I unlocked arms and crawled my way across the floor.
It was windy from the engines and I fell over a few times.
I made my way over to some bellhop and asked what was going on, why were these fighters above us, is it a show, what the hell is going on and what does any of this have to do with me leaving the hotel or even getting my bags.
He said the hotel was close to a military base and these planes were being sent to war. They were loaded with bombs and other weaponry. The hotel decided to be patriotic and show support for the war by making everyone sit there and send these planes off to war and most of the people were cheering and screaming go USA over and over. The sounds of the engines was interspersed with cheering.
But why can't I go back to my room? I didn't want to see this. I don't need to see this. I just want to get my things and leave.
Where are you gonna go he asked? Why don't you just go sit back down and watch.
I want to leave.
Where are you going to go he asked again. There is nowhere to go. We are one of the safest places right now.
What are you talking about I screamed at him.
We're at war he yelled back. Most of the country is under attack, millions already feared dead on the east coast. We are so close to the base, we are sort of under protection. Just go sit back down. After all the fighters have taken off, you can go back to your room but you can never leave.
The sounds of more and more fighters over head was more than I thought I could take.
I broke free from the bellhop who had now grabbed my arm and ran to the exit.
I busted through the doors to look off to the east.

The sky far off in the horizon was lit up a bright orange glow. I could hear bombs dropping. More and more jet fighters screeched over my head.
I fell to the ground and just watched as the sky grew brighter in the distance from fires.
They were dropping bombs on us.
They were dropping bombs on us.
I just laid there frozen watching, listening.

That's when I woke up in a panic.
It took me about 2 hours to get back to sleep.