I had that dream again. That dream where I’m protecting the girl, but I’m taller, stronger. He comforts the girl, not me, but I’m the one doing the fighting. I’m the one that loves her and protects her. But she doesn’t see me, just the monsters after her that I fight. Maybe she sees me as a monster, too.

I always wake up frustrated when I have that dream. My body is drained and I feel like an overdrawn bank account. The crickets think the morning will be happy and make their opinion known through cheery chirping.

I look at my reflection in the window and smile weakly. She may not notice me, but those that pay me do. At least I have purpose now, even if I don’t get what I desire.

It’s time to go, I hope that the memory of that dream will leave me before I make it to work. The sun is shining and a cool wind blows by. It’s the type of day I love.

It was the type of day that I loved. I could hear my teeth grate and my heart pound in my ears as I saw it waddle. It was all I could do to control my voice.