虎 , 龍

During my late morning nap, I dreamt of a legendary animal. It was half tiger and half dragon, beautifully golden in color. Its tail, easily three times the length of its body, was tangled around its own torso and neck, debilitating the animal. I began to undo its tail from the body, starting from the end. However, neither the beast's magnificent beauty nor its incapacity to free itself moved me. I felt nothing but distance and detachment. As the irony would have it, this creature...was me.

I was awakened from my dream by a phone call. My sister, who was taking a day off work, wanted to come over with mom. I said no--it was the first time I ever refused a visit by my family. I fell immediately back to the unconsciousness of sleep brought on by deep exhaustion. By the time I woke up, the sun had already set and my body had succumbed to fever yet again.