Day at the beach

A dream

I fall asleep and wake at the shores on the lake of fire
Walking the molten beach I come across an empty shell
Putting it to my ear there is a familiar sound
The sweet voice of a woman lost
She’s laughing as she always did
I give in and laugh with her as I always had

BANG
The sound of waves is replaced with hellfire
The screams of my beloved tear through my soul
I try and throw the shell into the lake
A large claw is released and grabs my ear
Pulls itself back into place
Forces me to endure the memory

Pulling my knife I take my ear
Crush the shell under my boot
I look up to find an army of shells in the distance
Their closing in fast from all angles but one
All but from the lake behind me
The fire grows as if it knows I’m coming
I run to the edge and stop

I’m pushed back into reality just before they reach me
My breath is heavy
Cold sweat runs down my brow
I reach for the bottle and douse my liver in whiskey
This time I won’t dream