Dream World

The screen blurred and didn't quite refocus. Barrel removed his wire-rimmed glasses and rubbed his aching eyes. His whole body was in pain now, so he didn't mind the eyes so much any more. Putting the glasses back on he saw that the screen was still fuzzy, and he realized that sleep deprivation had finally caught up to him. Barrel stretched out his body and yawned as the next track in his cd player started playing. The heavy beat of a rock band accompanied by a stuttering techno sound washed over him as he made his way to the bathroom. Computer hardware and stacks of compact disks created a maze from the computer to the small hotel bathroom. A pile of carry out boxes and dirty clothes around and on the bed suggests that Barrel hadn't slept, at least not in the bed.

Pain coursed over his lower back and neck as he opened the bathroom door, and stepped barefoot onto the cool tile floor. His hand brushed up against the wall to catch the light switch. It flickered several times before lighting up the grimy room; the cleaning lady hadn't been in to clean in quite sometime. Barrel unbuckled the cargo pants he was wearing, letting them fall to the floor, and lifted up the over sized tee shirt before pissing into the toilet. A dull thud of pain pushed in between his eyeballs and he depressed the handle on the toilet, sending a cascade of water, urine, and a bag of Cheesi-Os into the sewer system. Barrel watched the swirling waste until the plastic bag finally got sucked down the pipe.

"Life will do that to you. One moment you're the top dog. The big bag in the toilet bowl, and the next thing you know you get sucked into hell. And you have to fight off all the other bags just to stay afloat." It was a weak analogy, but Barrel was too wasted to care.

He fumbled with a plastic cup covered in crinkly plastic for a few seconds before dropping it on the floor and putting his head in the sink and turning on the faucet. The water was cold, but it felt good soaking into his hair and running along his face. It lingered on his lips and around his nose before pouring off of him into the sink. Barrel felt the cool water taking the hot summer sweat off of him and sighed. What he really needed was a shower, a week full of shuteye, and about the same time with his girl Robyn. He hadn't seen her in two weeks and had no way of getting in touch with her that wouldn't jeopardize the operation.

A static buzz sounded from his computer and he swore softly under his breath. Calmly moving into the bedroom while drying off his head with an over sized hand towel. The buzzing continued but seemed to be getting more desperate.

"I’m coming. Alright. Just hold on a second."

*

Barrel's eyes snapped open and he sat straight up in bed. Laying next to him was a beautiful young girl who was stirring from the alarm clock going off. Barrel fumbled for his glasses and then walked across the room to slap the snooze button. Running his hand across his mouth he looked at the girl in the bed.

"Come back to bed hon. We don't have to meet Edward for lunch until noon."

"Edward?"

She rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. Long jet black hair spread out over her pillow. Beautiful. But, not real. Sarah died years ago.

Barrel stepped out onto the balcony. Closed his eyes and let himself fall off the side. As the wind whipped by he heard a woman's voice in his ears.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Just giving myself a little pinch."

"You're going to be late for work if you don't get out of bed."

Robyn? But, she's back at the condo. Maybe this is what happens when you drink too much caffine and eat nothing but twinkies for two weeks.