Knocking before you wake

That almost ethereal feeling, am I awake or can I continue in this jewel crested armor for one more minute. Yes, I am aware that laundry is calling me. But no, it can take a number as I continue this adventure as the stream of light breaks through the stain glass windows to find that which I am seeking. Wait, what was I seeking? This familiar dream that has me stepping through marble columns and evading through the shadows. What was it again? I know the guard is coming and the snake that lays curled about the mantle impersonating the statues from the garden. I see it within the fireplace and reach for it knowing I will not be burned, not this time. Before my hand clasped the iron poker to retrieve it... knock knock. 

I snap awake as if shaken. Fear grips and my heart thumps pounding in my ear. My eyes snap awake and my body tenses. Every corner of the room is thoroughly searched as I spring awake. What in the world? Of course, there is no one at the door. Take aa deep breath and recall the familiar surroundings. Dresser, bookshelf, lamp, door propped but no one standing in the hall, or was there? 

There is no one at the door. There's no one in the hall. The only sound is the persistent ticking of my Dali clock on the wall, warped and infinitely the wrong hour shown, as it rejects being correct more than twice a day regardless of my replacing the batteries or not.

I breathe a simultaneous sigh of relief and frustration. There is no point in going back to sleep. Not at this hour. The quest will have to continue another night. Once again, I am steadying  myself to the impossibilities that no one is there but why the knock? 

Later, I pose the question to my confidant to see her reaction. She gives me some scientific explanation but everything in my being is screaming bull shit. She listens to my rant about how I believe it is something paranormal but I'm sure she is only being kind. 

How old she understand the nightly travels or when I tell her I just know? She is thoughtful and listens with love knowing that we are not on the same plane. The closest we ever came to being there was a conversation years ago when I told her this was our first go around and absolutrly wouldnt be our last. She believed me that day knowing we were linked by something much deeper than this lifetime and small talk in the office or drinking wine on the weekends.

No, this was too much for her today. 

I resolve to keep it inside. The dream life that I have had getting stronger by the night has made it harder and harder to focus on there being only one level to what I am experiencing. There's got to be a better explanation? 

Others have sworn it was a loved one visiting. Bruce was that you? It didn't have your signature. Aliens? Ha... Not likely, not impossible but they don't feel like this either. Was something watching me trying to keep me from the deep satisfaction of reaching into the flame? Paranoid much? II have no answers. II resolve to roll over and grab my latest book, Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins. I know the answer won't be scrawled in between his ranting and character descriptions. It seems better than letting my mind wander in this early hour before my three year old climbs up to retrieve me for today's demands. 

Resolute that I will continue to wonder but no more have the answers than a successful time explaining the internet to aa colony of fire ants.  I roll over and flip to page 150.