Dreamscape

I’m not in the habit of sharing my dreams as a public post though today, here it is:

Last night I dreamt that I was living in some dystopian future where news broadcasts show how all human beings in Gaza have been killed, entirely erased, and the only remaining life is that of stray cats. The world expressed outrage that these animals were left alone to fend for themselves, and en mass mobilisations begin to support the helpless creatures. Like the response to Ukrainian families fleeing their homeland, cake sales in schools were being advertised, people were offering to host kittens and elderly cats alike, examples of rescued cats were shared to melting audiences. News coverage showed aerial photographs of cats walking amidst dead bodies of mutilated children, dead mothers holding their unmoving infants, all covered in the ghostly grey ash of a besieged Gaza. Near naked men, stripped and bound, half buried, remain motionless, as the camera’s focus brushes passed these to focus on the sweet furry animals. Celebrities post to share their sadness at witnessing such inhumane treatment of innocent animals, politicians criticise the Israeli government and its allies for inefficient post-genocide planning, failing to safeguard these sweet beings, during their siege of the land formerly known as Gaza.

In the dream, I was frozen. Felt gas lit as all around me seem to hum the same tune, and I looked around for someone to say something. I tried to speak but my voice was a whisper. At one point, my daughter nudges me, like she does in real life when I sing in public (!), pleading, embarrassed: ‘shoosh mama, pease…’ I’m unsure if to preach to her, scald or obey. I stay frozen.

I woke with that blissful relief that comes with a nightmare. We are not there (yet). I woke with the reality of a brave and defiant generation of young people, of students sacrificing all (putting their privilege to the test) to do what is right. I woke to notifications from the various pro-Palestinian protest groups, sharing updates and plans. As dystopian as aspects of today are, I am relieved to be in today’s reality than in my dreamscape.