Turtle

I’m treading beautiful blue and turquoise water. There are small islands, each with perfect fine white sand and droopy palms, not far in different directions. I see movement in the water and fear hits. I franticly start swimming toward the closest island but soon I find myself floating next to a large turtle, swimming, no, floating slowly. He eases my panic but I decide to finish my swim to the island. The sand is soft like clouds; the turtle has taken the lead and I follow. Not far ahead there is a unfamiliar face, he is lighting fire crackers and dropping them on the sand where they silently explode creating light craters. We talk incoherently, but at the time I understand. Another person spawned from my imagination walks by like an extra in a movie and is gone. My stomach hurts and I think of how inconvenient this place is for a stomach ach. The turtle has stopped and neatly tucked away his arms, legs, and head. With my belly in pain, I follow suit and rest my head on his soft shell.

I wake with stomach pains.