Intruder

All my life I have been somewhat of a loner. I'm unmarried and have always lived alone. I often have dreams of someone invading my "space."

I come home to my apartment (larger than my actual apartment) one afternoon and find a young black man (in his 20's, conservative, middle class, amiable, outgoing) sitting on the floor before a large bookcase. He is casually looking at a small object in his hand—an unidentifiable item of my own belongings. I realize that he is here because he will be my new roommate and that my landlord has always had the option of placing another occupant in my apartment, although I had long ago forgotten that. I'm opposed to having anyone living with me, but I realize I'll have to begin thinking about how we will work this out and how I can approach this new relationship as diplomatically as possible. A small door in the back of the apartment leads to a suite of unused rooms. I remember this and realize I may be able to live in those rooms and have some privacy. Behind the door is a very narrow corridor with tiny rooms on each side. The stale air, dust, and sunlight have made the drab colors pale variations of the same light pastel. A door frame leads to each room, but there are no doors. An old iron stove sits on the faded carpet in one otherwise barren, cramped room. The opening to the room at my side is only a few inches wide—I can't possibly enter. With a dull, depressed feeling, I realize these rooms are hardly habitable, but I but decide they will do.

I welcome your comments about this dream.