Thena

I was up late last night after working second shift, then had to get up early for a contractor stopping by in the morning. So I didn't get a whole lot of sleep. When I started feeling drowsy after the contractor left, I figured a nap wouldn't hurt.

I'm looking at my smartphone and for some reason, I'm trying to search for information on Jimmy Kimmel. I'm having trouble spelling his name, with my attempt to spell "Jimmy" coming out as something else. I look at my hands and realize this must be a dream. I look up from the phone and find myself at work, except I seem to be on skates while the main aisle is made of ice. I start skating down the aisle until I get to the toy department. When I head down a smaller aisle, I see a magic lamp hanging on a display. I rub the lamp, which looks like plastic but feels cold like metal. I wait for the genii to appear, except nothing happens. I take a few steps and try again, and this time the genii comes out of the lamp.

I wish for a magic carpet. The genii points to an endcap where there are plush purple toilet lid covers on display. He takes one and tosses it in the air. It seems to get larger and thinner as it spins until landing on the floor, now large enough to hold a person. I make sure to hang onto the lamp as I get on the rug. The rug flies through the air, heading for the front of the store where I magically pass through the plate-glass window. Outside, it is cool and cloudy. I do a few loops on the magic carpet before returning to the ground.

At this point, I know I want a second wish but I'm a little stumped for what to wish for. I look at the clouds and wish that I was someplace warm. Almost immediately, I find myself wearing a rain coat and sitting at a small table under a large umbrella. I can see palm trees in the distance, and when I stick my hand out, I can feel the rain. I focus on the sounds of a tropical rain storm…

And then I find myself in my garage at home. I open the garage door, reminding myself that I wished I was someplace warm. And instead of my driveway, I see a tropical forest with a dirt path winding through the trees. I follow the path, feeling squishy texture of the dirt under my feet. Eventually, I come to a large building. I realize that it's the home of my grandparents in India. I remember where to find the back door that leads to a kitchen. From there, I move to the large reception room on the main floor. I remember that it was my favorite room as a kid because it had a swing. Sure enough, I see a wicker egg-shaped chair that is suspended from the ceiling. I sit in the chair and let it swing back and forth. A drink appears in my hand, and I wonder what it is before deciding that it should be Bombay Sapphire gin, of course. I sip it and debate what to do for my third wish. For a moment, I wonder if I should ask for the perfect kiss and an image of Benedict Cumberbatch comes to mind. But I decide that I can't have him show up in every single lucid dream!

Instead, I wish that I could speak to my grandmother. I see my Nana, my mom's mother, appear on my left hand side. She reminds me that this used to be her sewing room. I look on my right and see my dad's mother, who passed away before I was born. I really want to hear what she has to say, but she remains silent at first. I realize that I have no idea what she even sounds like because I have no memories to build on. Trying to draw her out, I ask, "What should I do with my life? I could really use some guidance." She remains silent, but this time she leans forward and kisses me on the forehead, then she gives me a hug. Then she tells me, "I want you to live. I have two beautiful granddaughters that I am so proud of and I want you to live your lives."