Marooned

Marooned

         I woke up and tried to remember where I was. I had no idea how long I’d been here. I felt cold and wet. The surface I was lying on had high sides and seemed to be rocking gently. Water splashed over the side and hit me. It tasted salty. I opened my eyes and saw the clear night sky, bright with stars.

         Now I remember; there was an explosion on the ship. People were running and screaming everywhere. I must have been near the explosion; I was hurt and couldn’t move. Someone found me and put me into one of the lifeboats, but before anyone else could get in with me, the ship lurched and the small boat plunged down into the water below. I felt terrible pain and then everything went black.

         Here I lay, all alone and unable to move. I’m cold now, but the sun will soon be up and I have no way to escape it. I’m thirsty and hungry, but there is nothing I can do but wait for the inevitable. The boat is rocking so gently, mercifully I drift back to sleep.


         Suddenly I woke to the sound of a loud bell. I bolted upright and turned off the alarm. I must get ready for work, but not before I write down that dream.

         It sounded like a daft idea when John suggested it, but he was right. All it took to break my writer’s block was a night’s sleep on a water bed.