COVID Dreams

Starting around March, I dreamt I was at the gym.

I dreamed of walking through the glass doors, waving hi to the lady always behind the front counter, signing in, picking up my rep sheet and walking over to the weight section.

I dreamed of sweating, ear buds in and blasting Linkin Park, shoes digging into foam mats, and the warmth of resistance pushing against me as I went through each set.

Then I woke up and remembered my gym's closed - permanently, now - and there's no going back.

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In April I dreamed about visiting my family.

I had brought food to share, and gave everyone big, long-lasting hugs as we laughed and talked about the crazy times we were in. All my siblings and I sat down at my parents' dying thrift store dining room table, pulling up stools and benches and computer chairs, eating junk food and sodas which I only indulge in when visiting them.

I dreamed we watched movies together and talked about our lives and what books we'd read, and then maybe we played a board game or something.

Then I woke up and remembered I haven't visited my family in months, and probably won't for awhile - because my mom has diabetes, two steel knees, and a plethora of health issues while I refuse to be her death sentence.

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This month I dreamed I went to a game shop.

My town doesn't even have a game shop anymore; I haven't been to one in ages. Yet this one was everything I wanted - sections divided by co-op, strategy, worker placement, party, old school, and TCG's. They had minifigs, painting supplies, RPG books and maps on racks, tables filled by quiet nerds, and promotional posters / dice everywhere the eye could see. The space was tight, nowhere near social distance guidelines, with dark corners perfect for people who rarely see daylight.

I was filling up a basket with items, perusing a core book, and my partner was tapping me on the shoulder to move me along to the counter - run by one of my favorite Youtube D&D hosts.

Which was when I realized the shop wasn't real and woke up.

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I don't know when I'll ever see a gym, my family, or a game shop again.

However for now I hope they'll continue to pop up at least in my dreams, so I can enjoy them the only way I can right now.