I had this dream last night—recurring.

I was in a building, and this white guy was trying to hide me.

This dream is recurring (a lot), so I already knew what was going to happen.

At the moment that the guards passed by, I put on my shoes and told the guy that we had to leave.

He helped me out of the building’s window, and he handed “our” baby to me.

In my head, it was “our” baby.

I was telling him to come with me, but he refused.

I started to walk away, but I turned back.

“We can make it,” I told him.

He looked lovingly at the child, and I started to run.

As I said, I already knew what was going to happen.

He stayed behind to buy us some time.

He’s captured, and he’s beaten.

How do I know?

I’ve stayed behind with him and have been captured once before.

This isn’t a dream where I watch things happen.

No, I can change the outcome somewhat.

So, I’m running through my childhood neighborhood, going over fences with our child and dodging yards with dogs in them.

I know that If I try to make it to the projects across from my old neighborhood, then I’ll get caught.

I’ve done that a few times.

Hell, a lot of times.

I’m older now in real life.

So, I finally decided, after all these years of dreaming this same dream, to take an alternate route.

I head straight for the road that leads to the highway to Winn-Dixie, where my stepdad used to always shop.

I don’t get caught.

I wake up, and the dream ends.

The message?

If I stop doing the same thing over and over, I’ll get a different result?

I’ll win?

(Shrugs)