Jeweled Astronauts, Graying Reflection

Nightmares Written, To Someone

I thought it would be fitting I share some of the nightmares I had. I knew they were coming, and they gave me that strange mix of dread
and creative satisfaction.

The first dream, these clones start walking among town. Randomly spawning, in nicer clothing than the original person. But they're smug and emotionless.
For example, one woman was doing her laundry in what may have been a hotel or large apartment complex. Her clone sauntered by in a glamorous 1950s
style suit and looked down at her and sneered.

The kicker was it was dangerous to acknowledge that you had a clone or who they were. You could look at them with disgust or fear, but the dream heavily
implied you'd be maimed if you verbally acknowledged their presence.

Then towards the end, the 'camera' panned over to a large control panel in space. The clones were for some reason, represented as doll-like astronauts,
made out of clay. Somehow, it's communicated they're not regular astronauts, they're aliens in disguise.

Someone holding one of the clay dolls is a life size 'astronaut' themselves, adding various jewels to the bottom of the clone doll's feet. Diamonds make you
cooler, Sapphire makes you savvier. I think it's a good parallel for how you try to treat others, and how you
treat yourself.

The second dream is less interesting, and more about me. I know what it represents, but maybe I needed to feel it again.
All of my hair prematurely starts going gray, the second I lift one layer up. It wouldn't be visible to others unless I wore a bun or pigtails, but I know the truth.

Mentally, I go back and forth between admiring the change (and inadvertently, my wisdom) and resenting that I have to grow up so much faster than I
wanted. This is also how I felt, taking care of you. It's also how I feel every day, it's a role I worry I don't have the luxury to escape.