halo

- for melissa

in my post knee surgical vicodin tainted dream
i was a spartan
campaigning in a game of xbox halo reach
standing in the middle of an open area
of the sword base courtyard
surrounded by grunts and jackals
with 2 elite generals advancing
from under the bridge

i was paralyzed
stock still in place
my sleeping body flinching
with every direct hit
from their plasma pistols
lighting up and depleting my armor shield

and at the same moment i realized i could not move
i felt your hand on my chest
and looked up to see you standing there
resplendent in a bright red armor set
a plasma repeater held out in your right arm

you walked casually around me in circles

gracefully eliminating the covenant troops

your left hand touching me the entire time
until we were the only two bodies
remaining standing on the map.