Submerged
For James & Oneg's Summer Writing Challenge Extravaganza
The Dream State Challenge: write a fantasy fiction or poem about a recent dream that you had. Whatever you remember, use as your fuel for this epic piece!
Drowning. Immersed in cool, fresh water. Rejuvenating and fresh. Blue hues rippled above as the Sun glittered against the surface. Beams of light; ethereal and proud. Bubbles formed in front of me as breaths left my lips, speechless.
If I was dying, dying was peaceful.
A mirror stood before me, as my body floated with ease in the soft current. Rocking me like a baby to a sacred lullaby. The mirror was made of gold; tri-paneled and weathered by its time on the lakebed. I was called to look at my reflection, so I swam to greet it, searching for answers to questions I did not know I had. When I reached the mirror, I did not see myself portrayed back to me.
I saw my grandmother instead, with a smile on her face. Healthy, radiant, and beautiful. She was underwater with me, but she did not seem burdened by the lack of oxygen.
Instead, she opened her mouth to speak.
She told me: Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay.
Before I succumbed to the lack of air, I woke up with a start. My heart beating fast. Struggling to catch my breath. Covered in a layer of cold sweat. Begging to be taken back to that moment when I closed my eyes again.
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Thank you, Ian Read for tagging me in this challenge. Read Ian's Entry here:
In turn, I tag Jazzy Gonçalves and Mackenzie Davis!
Find more information on James & Oneg's Summer Writing Challenge Extravaganza here:
About the Creator
Ashley Lima
I think about writing more than I write, but call myself a writer as opposed to a thinker.
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Comments (10)
Goodness, this is so visceral. I can't believe your dreams are this literary and I want you to write a poetry collection of just Ashely dreams. I'd buy it in a cinch. That image of the mirror, the oxygen, the reflections, nothing being as it should be, it all screams dream, but also poetry, and you make me want to enter this scape just as the speaker did when she woke up. Just gorgeous. I never forgot about this tag, lol. I'm planning to write something for it soon. I may break the rule of "recent," though... ;D
Wow, so suffocatingly beautiful. Hypnotizing imagery and fluid dream state, bringing up that longing to return to the beginning, to hasten to the end, the cherished loved one, and all the stuff of dreams.
It's such a beautiful story. I wanted to be taken back as well. Very well written and full of emotional comfort ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Deeply emotive… well done Ashley ❤️🙏✨
This one pulled at all of my emotions striking tears. When my grandmother passed I spoke to her in my dreams for months until I suddenly felt better. Thanks for sparking that beautiful reminder.
Dear Ms. Ashley - Always inserting a little of you in your pieces ~ Makes you our Village "Master" Creator ~ - My Pleasure - Jay 'Senior' Vocal Author
If I was dying, dying was peaceful. It indeed is. I don't understand why people are afraid of dying and people don't understand why I'm not. So that's fair I guess. I truly loved your story!
This was serene and beautiful! I love the way you weave the real and unreal together so seamlessly. Brilliant work!!
Love this.
Interesting the way you changed the act of drowning from terrifying to pleasant. Nicely done!