There was a word for it, a lucid dreamer, someone who can navigate the sea of dreams. Faster and faster the carriage raced. Lightning flashed. The horses screams as she yanked on the reins. Rounding a curve, she careened over the edge and fell down forever. She reached up for that word. it escaped.

Still wrestling with the vestiges of a dream, Jasmine fought the morning. As a farmer’s daughter she couldn’t fight for long. With a groan, Jasmine flung her sweat soaked bedding away. Her bare feet slapped against her childhood bedroom floor. For a moment she was nine years old ready to do chores before grammar school then she blinked into a thirty-nine divorcè. A loud neigh from the stables shook her.

standing, she went for her barn boots. Petrichor scented the air. The room swam and Jasmine slammed into the floor. Stunned, she lay still. Since the pandemic there was no chance of extra farm hands. In fact she hadn’t seen a neighbor or even a passing car in weeks. Wavering she climbed onto her hands and knees.

”Jazzy, you okay?”

Her mama’s voice coming up the staircase shook Jasmine’s awake. More loud braying and stomping, the horses were still going wild. she shoved her feet into her boots. On jelly legs, Jasmine stumbled down the stairs. shrugging into her flannels Jasmine lumbered into the kitchen. 

potatoes and onions fried in bacon grease hung in the air. Jasmine swayed and steadied herself on the kitchen door jam. Jody and her heights over the years were scratched into the old frame along with her father’s and his father’s. Dorie and Alex looked up at her entrance. Dorie turned from the cast iron skillet and hurried towards her daughter. outside thunder rumbled.

“goddamn it Dorie! Quit babying that girl. That’s why she fucks up everything she touches,” Alex shouted, pounding his fork on the kitchen table. 

Dorie and Jasmine froze, waiting for him to stop. Taking in her daughter’s flushed features and red rimmed eyes, fear chilled Dorie’s heart. Covering her mouth with a trembling hand, Dorie turned back to the stove. Jasmine lurched towards the back door heading across the dying pasture for stable. Outraged, Alex maneuvered his wheelchair in jerky motions. 

“check those damn horses. This is not some kind of vacation. Your mother and I worked our fingers to the bone for your lazy ass. If your brother was still here.”

her father’s voice prodded her back with every step. Rain threatened under petulant clouds. Grass blades waved and rippled. Thunder clashed in the stable. Jasmine drove into the cool grassy waves. Saltwater stung her eyes. One of the horses kicked open its stall. A fork tongued satyr screamed something from the shore. Leathery tentacles reached for her silver tail. Jasmine darted away from danger.

A winged stallion soared overhead. Jasmine broke the surface to watch the entire herd take to the air. Another shout further away pulled at Jasmine. She knew she should turn and swim back. But without looking back, Jasmine the Oneironaut swam away free.