visitation

The pelican appeared
to him in his sleep, speaking
in perfect English, which he found not so
surprising, for some reason, at
all, and it said, only,
“Be true,” and he awoke, not suddenly,
but after some
time, and sat – not up, but just – and
said, back, “Yes.”
Then, he lay,
again – not down, but just – and
stared at the ceiling for minutes, then
hours, then
fell back
asleep.
He awoke at the alarm
and
remembered
nothing, as was supposed
to
be.