The Dark Hallway

You begin.
You start down this hallway,
Empty, black
You notice the feel of the hallway.
Damp, cool, and misty.
As you look around in a 360-degree move, you see nothing,
But darkness, nothing but black
It is covering yourself, for now you cannot see your hand.
So you decided the best move is to not stay still, but to keep moving,
You walk down this hallway, and as you're walking a light begins to appear.
You think to yourself have I died and gone to heaven?
How would I know? I've never been there.
You feel a sense of urgency, and not knowing why - continue on.
Then you try to walk- but it seems like your getting nowhere,
There is nothing there.
You fall, for what seems an endless time but is really only seconds.
Then you hit -
You get yourself up and look at the red cement,
How very real the blood tastes,
How much the cuts hurt.
Are you dreaming?
You would pinch yourself, but your too numb.
Wanting to know where you are, you go on.
You walk by old houses and streets that seem familiar to you,
Where are you?
As you try to remember, you notice that you're back in your hometown!
Where you grew up!
You think of your friend from what seems like just yesterday,
So you go up to the house, that's now old and shaggy and ask to speak to him,
"He died, - 5 years ago."
"But how, when?"
As the pain filled his family's eyes they closed the door.
So you start to worry now,
If it's a joke, then it's for a sick personality.
Starting to feel helpless, you think- why me?
You know you can't stop here, so you walk on,
Cars pass you with plates you have never seen before.
One of them stops and offers you a ride.
You said ok and got in the car.
They take you near the ocean, after riding for hours.
A secluded little place, nice and cozy.
After you got in the car, you notice these are your best friends!
They said you could stay at their place they had, until this dilemma was over.
You would have woken up the next morning,
But you died
You were out doing your job,
When someone pulled up to the side of your car that you were driving,
And told you to get out.
After taking a shot in the head your car was stolen.
He almost killed you - but you were rushed to the hospital,
You actually had a really good chance of survival,
But you slipped into a coma and never woke up.
What does this mean to you?

Poem by J.A.D. © 2001