A Doe Dream

Someone shot a deer in the twilight

It was cold

First the deer ran off and was lost

Then the hunter found it

And pulled into the backseat of a car

It was a doe

With a bullet in her left side

Her eyes were open and still

I walked away

The hunter was happy

I was indifferent

Then it was hot

And I knew the deer was alive

But dying 

Like a baby or a dog in hot car

The windows were fogged with her breath

I ran to save her

Pulled her out of the car

I should’ve checked

I should’ve made sure she was dead

I laid her on a picnic blanket

It was cold again

Water

I remembered water

A jug appeared over my right shoulder

It poured water into my cupped hands

And the doe came alive and drank

The bullet wound was smaller now

Like a scabbed over cigar burn

I was afraid the doe would bite my fingers

But I deserve it if she does

Then the doe felt brighter

And she looked at me

Stared

She knew me

She opened her mouth as if to speak

And I knew what she was going to say

Then I woke up