The Wolf

Still from the film, Wendy and Lucy

In my dream the wolf is feriocious and attacking. He is also domesticated, but just, not by me. He belongs to downstairs' neighbor and one day the neighbor leaves his the chain link fence open. in his prowling way, the wolf begins hunting me down. As I climb the stairs to the front door of my house, I drop the heavy book I am conveniently holding. Whether this is an accident or in self-defense I am not sure. The book hits the wolf squarely on the front leg, breaking it and causing him to fall back immediately. I suddenly feel horrible. The wolf licks his legs and I know instinctively that he must be moved, that he needs medical attention, that I must help the wolf. The fear I have of the wolf and getting near him is equal to the compassion I have for the pain I have caused him. I step toward the wolf, whose lips and sharp teeth are now covered in blood. I must befriend the wolf, I must make him trust me, and I must keep him from attacking me. The wolf whimpers as I approach, frantically licking his leg, his mouth in a snarl. All I see are teeth, bloody teeth. I touch the wolf and he does not bite. I begin to scoop him up and awaken. It only takes a few seconds for me to realize that I have just had a thinly-veiled dream about my last relationship.