A Winter Dream

Chloe Jeon

I’m flying high among the clouds,

Cool winter breeze in my face,

Broad wings of soft white feathers,

Soaring far above the tallest mountains,

Never looking back.

Plateaus and cliffs of blinding white,

Glaring back at me with

The strength of a thousand faint suns

Waning as the day ends.

I am a child of the sun and the moon,

Walking with the stars,

Cold little gems so near yet distant.

My arm moves forward without me noticing,

Fingers outstretched,

Reaching for the stars,

Confusion.

Feathers.

Floating.

The freezing wind bites into me

Like thousands of little shards,

Like knives.

It takes a moment to realize.

Falling, falling, I keep falling.

I can’t stop.

I can’t.

I—

And then I hear it.

A twinkle

A shimmer

A whole chorus of silent yet audible

Stars.

And then the snowflakes,

Each one its own little universe.

I let myself fall,

Wind and snow swirling around me.

I am everywhere

I am everyone

I am here

I am.