I leave my mother behind and enter a short, narrow hallway with doors at each end. There are two or three others with me. We continue on through the next door, as the one behind us is locked. There is the feeling of unease. We are part of a psychological experiment we signed up for and we don't know what is to happen next.

Through the door, we enter some place dark. There is enough light to see two doors, and through each of those, two more doors. This place is like a maze, and we are trying to reach the other side.

In this maze there are obstacles, monsters. I lose the members of my group as I move in the direction I think is best. This is my maze now, my underworld, my hell. I get the feeling I should be scared, but I'm only anxious and ready to get to the end.

Somewhere towards the back, in the darkness I am seeing exit signs everywhere. I remain calm, with thought that if I can just outlast this experience it will be over soon enough.

:~:

I wake a little--the dream fades to black and is gone.

times like these
it's almost as though someone were speaking over my shoulder,
there's always a way out, you just have to find it.

but you're always looking for a quick exit
when really the way out is through

there is never a quick means to an end
stop searching for a way out
take the experience for what it is