Dream

Mum's been in and out of sleep since the surgery, lost in that twilight of being half awake and semi-conscious. Most of the time, I just sit next to her and watch her, listen to her snore, and the silence is broken by the mechanical sound of the IV drip releasing periodic doses of drugs.

Suddenly, she spoke: "I dream of this..."

"What do you dream of...?" I asked, anxious. Does she have nightmares, like I do when I sleep? Does she dream of terrible things, of death, of terrible suffering and pain?

"Red carrot..." she said weakly.

I burst out laughing. "You want carrots? I'll get you some now!!"

"No..."

And she began snoring again.