It was 8 pm when I returned. The last six hours were akin to listening to a ranting relative during Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of having a delicious meal to distract me, I only acquire brain freeze and extra calories. My good judgment decided against using my car, but it hadn’t counted on the rain worsening. ...

A supervisor joining me on my ‘vacation’ escorts me through the airport. She says she wants to help me relax. More likely, she wants to get a free vacation for herself. I do not argue, though. The flight consists of screaming children, snoring, obnoxious passengers, and rude flight attendants. I swear in the hopes of ...

 The sun shining through the window wakes me up. I hear water running in the bathroom, signifying that the supervisor is getting ready for our spa day. I pull the covers over my head and close my eyes to fool her. It does not work, and she lifts me out of the bed and escorts ...

My massage lasts for 2 hours, though I’m asleep throughout the treatment. While dreaming, the pink light reappears in front of me. I try to approach it, but I can’t go any faster than a snail.

I fall onto the ground and stifle a scream by putting a hand to my mouth. The rosy pink bird stares at me for one minute then walks off to a nearby water fountain to drink. I get back up and tiptoe over towards the bird, attempting not to disturb it.

We wander into our hotel room and lay on our beds. I look out the window and notice the sun is still high up. I go over the morning’s events in my mind. The encounter with the flamingo never leaves my thoughts. My escort breaks my concentration. “How are you feeling now?” I sigh deeply. ...

My heart skips a beat as I see the pink dot flying away. I nearly leap out of my beach chair, but a closer look reveals it to be a small balloon that left a child’s grasp. I sigh and lie on my back in the shade. Listening to the gentle waves landing on the ...

My childhood memories end abruptly when the setting sun catches my eye. My escort and I decide to return to our hotel room and go to bed for the night. We fall asleep the instant our bodies lay in the soft beds. Once again, I find myself dreaming. I’m naked and floating in a large ...

I cannot return to my sleep; the flamingo in my dream lingers in my brain. I lie awake in bed for some time, twiddling my thumbs and watching the window curtains gently flutter. Then I notice an envelope hanging from one of the curtains with a paper clip. Tiptoeing so I don’t startle my escort, ...