Sleep Apnea

Head resting wearily on a soft, familiar pillow,
My eyes lay heavy with the burden of slumber.

Drifting, falling, crashing deeply into wonderland,
My mind plays freely in the vivid world of imagination.

Worries of the day manifest in lucid imagery,
As wishes and hopes for tomorrow coyly dance around my mind.

Relaxing, resting, recovering peacefully,
I sleep unaware of the silent assasin about to strike.

Dreaming of serving and helping a friend,
I must tell them to wait as I struggle to draw breath.

A tightness like sinus pressure bares down on me.
I stand to regain my strength.

I must tell my friend to wait momentarily,
As I try to breathe once more.

I walk away, run, flee, start to panic.
My lungs refuse to work.

I begin to float, low and gentle.
I encounter a man on horse back rushing to the scene of needed reinforcements.

As he mounts to gallop away a little, green orb floats up to him.
Whispering as Tinker Bell would, it speaks to the rider of the tall, black horse.

The rider looks up and asks, "What?"
The glow replies, "Your concious."

Confuscion growing the rider asks once more, "What?"
The green orb stays with patience and says, "Think Jimmeny Cricket."

With that last word I begin to float once more.
High and far this time.

Worlds fade as black and darkness surround.
At the same time a strong white light appears and illuminates.

Feeling free I hear my voice.
My own voice shouting loudly at me.

"Wake up!"
"Wake the fuck up and breathe!!!"

With that the world comes crashing back down,
And I snap awake sitting straight up.

In an instant I am gasping desperately for air.
Striving to replish the much needed substance my lungs have lost in my sleep.

I twist my head and look around.
Scared that no one is near.

I know that anytime I fall asleep,
The air that I need to live may not be there.