Dream Journal

Taking Aerial Photographs for the President's 257th Birthday

The capital of the city was glorious. Many years ago, many years before I was even born, water consumed much of the land throughout the world and humans were left with only the tops of few buildings to live on. Those with boats survived, but the cities below did not. So we built floating pods that could hold buildings. 

The city is mobile, connected only by thin bridges. Each of the pods that float on the water have their own motors, and are capable of splitting and reattaching. I am proud to say that I was one of the people who helped create the pods, and so I was given a job directly under the President.

The President looks just as you would expect for a man in a position of such power. He has dark brown hair, gentle eyes, and wrinkled hands. Well, he did have- when he was alive. Each day his hologram wears a different suit and combs his hair in a different way. Needless to say his standards are not very high, and he is very charitable. He was a great man, and he is now going for his 53rd term in presidency. In fact, he was such a great president that just before he died, his brain was removed and attached to a synthetic body that imitates the functions of human life. 

It simulates the movements and predicts the decisions that the president would have been likely to make, were he still alive. We aren't sure if his conscious mind knows that his physical body has passed on, so for now everyone is forbidden to come in contact with the hologram.The program may terminate or the President's brain could go into shock. We aren't sure, but we simply can't take the risk.

All of his workers, including myself, live in the capital building. My room is on the twenty-fourth floor. It's elegant, and one of the closest to the president's office, which is on the twenty-fifth floor. Usually I get up every morning, go to hear my agenda, and then set out for the city. Today has been marked the celebration of the President's 257th birthday, so I'm not quite sure what will be in store for me.

Because today is breezy and the water may breach the rails and soak my feet, I choose to wear boots with my suit. I loosen my tie as I stride down the hallway and flash my ID to the guards outside the door. They open the doors after nodding to one another and I quickly step inside.

The President's hologram smiles up at me from his desk and he immediately stops typing on his holographic computer.

"Hello, advisor."

"Good morning. And Happy Birthday, Mr. President," I say, and give a respectful bow. The President smiles and thanks me. 

We then sit down and a servant is called in for two cups of tea. I make sure that the servant who sets down the tea faces the holographic teacup handle toward the President. We didn't need any mishaps. Not today.

I sip my tea while the President begins to discuss business as usual. Meanwhile, my mind drifts. Today was supposed to be my day off, and I'd only come to confirm it. 

I sigh aloud without meaning to, and suddenly catch myself and cough weakly.

"What's the matter, advisor?" the President asks, genuinely interested to know.

"Oh..." my voice trails off and I blush heavily. "Today was supposed to be my day off, sir, and I had planned to go take a walk around the city."

The President strokes his chin, deep in thought for a moment.

"Very well, advisor. Why don't you go out?" he smiles and pats me on the shoulder.

I wince as I hear the crinkle of static interference but did not feel anything.

"Thank you sir!" I say excitedly and uncross my legs, preparing to stand up.

"Oh, but do me a favor, advisor-"

I nod. 

"Take a few pictures for me. You were a photographer before you accepted the offer to work for me, correct?" the President asked. 

I was puzzled by his strange request, but didn't argue.

"Yes, sir. I was a photographer," I said.

"Good! I haven't been allowed out of this blasted building since I became president. I'd really like to see what my city has become." 

I hesitated for a moment. 

"Well, go on, then," he says, and waves his hands toward the door. 

I quickly salute him and rush toward the elevator.

The glass elevator whisks me down to floor one. I have my office-issued phone sitting in the bottom of my pocket, and it will be all I will need. I rush down the open corridor with my hands pinned at my sides. I give a quick wave to the secretary and burst through the front doors.

The white capital building stands behind me and I almost feel inclined to wave goodbye to it. 

I get a running start across the front lawn and onto the sidewalk. The skies are, luckily, overcast, so seeing my phone screen won't be too difficult.

Not many people are out today, I notice. The gentle hum of the motors churning the dark waters below shakes the ground ever-so-slightly. It looks a bit like rain is coming.

I cross over the first bridge I come to. It is merely a footpath, just wide enough for a car. Not that we have any vehicles here, but I'd read a lot about them in textbooks and I'd even seen a few in pictures. 

I head into the main park pod and stand before the grassy plain. Seven or eight pods before me is the largest pod that holds enormous skyscrapers and shops. It looks glorious set in front of the swirled clouds.

I got another running start and this time, confidently leaping into the air. I kick my feet as if I am swimming through the sky and push off on stepping stones made of air. Before long, I am soaring. I kick and paddle through the open air as easily as I walk with my own two feet. The water had swelled so much here that there is very little atmosphere rooting us to the pods and we could easily float.

While twisting and turning in the air, I fumble in the pocket of my coat for the phone. I pull it out and turn it sideways to activate the camera. I focus in on the sky-high city sprawled out before me and snap a few dozen shots. I glance over them while trying my best to keep my body suspended. I grab blindly at my flapping coat pocket and shove the phone inside. 

For a moment, I think that I missed and my stomach wrenches. My body quickly falls and my heart skips a beat. I kick my legs and paddle my arms more vigorously. The heavy phone taps against my side in my pocket and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I turn my eyes back toward the sky, and I realize that I am approaching the commuter's building much too quickly. It leads to all of the tunnels that connect the pods through the water below. 

I shift my weight to steer out of the way, but the air currents won't follow my command. I blink the wind away and my eyes water. My coat flaps and my phone slides out, disappearing in the dark surrounding water with a plink.

"Stop, stop!" I try to command verbally, but my body rejects my voice. I continue to fly straight for the commuter's building. I raise my arms over my head and cross them in preparation for impact. 

The warm wind that blows through my hair suddenly stops, and the darkness in the wrinkles of my coat merge with the shadows in the creases of my eyelids.

Darkness.