Cold sweat trickling off forehead.

Throat dry, desert parched.

Jug on table. Condensation glistens.

Old woman next bed. Regular pain moans.

TV in ceiling corner. Volume low.

Bedsheets feel heavy. Too much.

Muscles are limp. Pain is everywhere. Dull throb in head middle.

Need water.

Jug in vision. Peripheral. That’s the word.

Nurse.

Help.

Cracked lips. No voice.

Nurse sleeps.

Fan electric whirrs, rotates.

TV shows the crash.

Remember?

You were there.

Were you there?

There you were :

windowseateyesoncloudssoaringoverheadintercom
ladiesandgentlemenweappeartobeexperiencing
womaninfrontworriesplanerocksloudboomsmokeinwindowflames
planewingfiregoingdowngoingdown
screamscreamSCREAMSCREAM

: Dream.

Real.

Dream?

REAL.

Nurse!

Still sleeping.

GET UP. HELP ME. WATER.

Eyes closed, she stands up.

Eyes closed, she comes over.

Eyes closed, she lifts my head up and lifts the water glass to my lips.

She’s still sleeping.