This is part of a dream I had the night before last, and it has stayed with me, so I thought I would write it down. Maybe it will be the source for a story.

It began with one woman. She was dressed in a silver fabric that looked much like the back side of aluminum foil. With her long brown hair tied back, her face shone brightly with a mixture of joy and devotion. Her deep blue eyes betrayed a fervency that would normally make me run a mile. I've always feared blind fundamentalism, but this was different. It seemed Pagan, but her bold red lip gloss told me otherwise.

She said something and the crowd that had suddenly gathered around me responded - it sounded like Latin chant. I don't know where they came from. Perhaps they were just like me - other dreamers called forth by an unknown voice from a deep slumber. All gazed forward at the dais. We were gathered in a large rectangular room, only slightly better-constructed than a barn with wooden walls dyed in pale blue.

More silver-clad people joined her on the dais. In knew then that this wasn't an ordinary dream. Aside from everyone being fully-clothed, I was too, but I can't now remember what I was wearing. Another sure sign of a dream was missing, too. The room was equally filled with both sexes, but I wasn't certain of that until later.

The woman that had started the ritual had ceased being the focal point of it for the time being - all on stage were equal, and all chanted this Latinate response.

I felt awkward, not part of the crowd and not part of the ritual. I didn't know where it was taking me or what it celebrated. I should have felt nervous, but my curiosity kept me there. I think there were candles and incense, but I don't remember any smells. It was the closing of the ceremony that seemed to wipe all that away.

A woman stepped to the front of the dais and looked at me. I don't know if it was the same one as before, but I immediately knew what she wanted. That was to follow her through a door at the side of the stage. I couldn't. I knew that by following her, I was enroute to oblivion, a loss of myself and all that I stood for. She offered me sensual delights and physical fulfillment, but that didn't seem enough of a temptation.

She didn't wait for me. Instead, another man from the crowd followed her. Soon the audience members and ritual cast were pairing up and leaving through that same door - all except me.

All except me, that is, and a woman to my right with short, dark red hair, bright blue eyes, and a fiery red dress. I can't be certain, but her face was that of the first woman on the dais, complete with the shiny lip gloss.

In a glance, her smile told me I had made the right decision. She would fulfill me in every way, without compromise and without passing through the door to oblivion.