The White Tree

Last night I had a dream that I was going to be beheaded.
I was kneeling on a podium with my cheek pressed against a wooden block, although it felt more like an uncomfortable pillow. Thus is the nature of dreams. My body lay contorted behind me; tangled in a duvet, I imagine, in real life. In the dream I was only conscious of its awkward uselessness, barely a presence.

Opposite me lay a woman and she was the Queen. She was wearing a crown, though it was more like a wreath of golden vines. She had long brown hair but I couldn't twist my head to look at her face. She seemed to know me. Maybe I was her maidservant. I felt a certain awe and subservience towards her, and she seemed calm and reassuring, though I was frightened. I could hear the Executioner talking over my right shoulder, a few paces away. The Queen was watching him but I couldn't turn my head to see.Her demeanour was defiant, but also strangely accepting, and self-assured. As though she had been there many times before, awaiting death, though how could she have been? I felt impatient. I knew what was soon to happen, and I wanted it over with. I kept trying to turn round to see the Executioner but she told me to stop trying. Just to look at the sky, she said.

The sky was brilliant blue to the far left of my vision, the kind of blue that nature rarely permits. To the right it was a blood-orange sunset. Against the sky, a white tree shone, its branches surreal and curvaceous. It was beautiful, and as soon as I'd seen it all impatience left me and I wanted to savour every last second of life. I stared at the sky as though trying to draw myself towards it. As though it could save me. My eyes filled with tears.

Then I heard footsteps and I shut my eyes. The Queen was still there, her face close to mine. You're first, said the Executioner. It's better, said the Queen, and for the first time her voice betrayed fear. I shut my eyes tighter. I waited and the seconds seemed like awful hours, and then the Executioner said One, Two, Three and there was a blow, but no pain. It's done, said the Queen, and I knew my life was over. I could feel it slipping away, down my throat. Give in, said my right brain, and I felt Death coming on like heavy waves of sleep. Live! said my left brain, and I fought against its coming, fought to open my eyes for one last glimpse of that beautiful sky before terrible nothingness took me forever.

Then  I woke up.