Except the liquid is lava, and I spend the dream running from it. By the time I open my eyes, I’m in a decidedly grumpy mood. What I really need is an IV of caffeine and about a hundred Krispy Kreme donuts. As I yawn and stretch, I swing my legs out of bed and start to stand, but something wobbles beneath me and my legs slide out in opposite directions and I slam to the floor, my face bouncing off the carpet. My teeth smash against my tongue, and I’m pretty sure I’ve nearly bitten it off, because the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth. It all happens so fast I wouldn’t have been able to save myself in normal circumstances, let alone four seconds after waking up. What the? Then I open my eyes and everything comes to focus. I can only stare, my mouth hanging open and my eyes bugging out. Gumballs. Thousands of them.
