You’re eight years old
You and your father have gone into the woods surrounding the house to explore
You are laughing and running and falling in the colorful leaves
Your father follows behind you
Walking, he cannot run
Hasn’t been able to for years
Suddenly you hear an angry roar
You freeze
Turn
There is a bear
There is a bear 20 feet from you
30 from father
You scream in fright
Turn
Run
The bear gives chase
Father doesn’t move
There is another deafening roar
You break through the trees surrounding your yard, look behind you
Father isn’t there
Father couldn’t run
You start to cry out, “Daddy”, sobbing

**** awake
Tears streaming down your face
Turns out it wasn’t just dream you crying
Call out
“Dad?”