Woman in Purple

I was enjoying my pets company before bedtime and was suddenly met with an image with each blink. I've never had a vision like this before. It's called hyperphantasia, and I never knew this was a thing until today.

At first blink I saw a throne. I was confused. With each flutter the image grew more prominent. It was a woman nursing a goblet in one hand, with a leg draped over the arm rest while the rest of her body slouched to the left. She was dressed in the colour purple.

Every time I blinked her posture changed, her outfits and my view of her. I kept my eyes closed and my minds eye leaned in, seeing her whisper into an ear saying, "You're going to be great." I opened my eyes and my pets stirred, seemly responding to the shock I felt from this image. I closed my eyes again, watching as the scenery gradually changed, until it was a woman sat with her leg crossed over the other, hand holding a wine glass with a city backdrop in her window.

The throne became a dining room chair that was placed where her kitchen and living room met. Her camera was set on the island as she got up to adjust it again. A baby was crawling on the floor in front of her—then the baby became a dog. Someone who was her lover was exiting their bedroom off to the side, and on the tv stand glimmered two urns with the ashes of her past animals in them.

I opened my eyes and tears streamed down my face, my pets quick to start licking the salt away.

I closed my eyes again and envisioned them there with me, embracing in that moment that this was a vision from my life in 10 years. Living in an apartment with my husband, another baby—human or animal—appears in frame as I try to capture a film photo of myself the first day we settle into our new home.

Then my birds brought me back with their gentle chirps, signaling it was time for bed. I placed them in their cage, told them I love them and that I will remain present. They looked at me a moment longer and hopped into their box to cuddle. Now I sit here recalling what I saw, eager to revisit this picture with details I'd enjoy:

The sunset was casting beautiful shadows in the apartment. On the island, a glass vase with yellow and purple flowers bask in the golden rays. The water below magnifying a stream of light onto the kitchen cabinets.

I snap a photo.

With the fridge in frame, I take another look at the adorned magnets and photos from my past. I try to make out the memories but my mind is pulled to the task at hand. With a bird on each shoulder, I rest my camera against the vase, preparing to take a self-portrait to document the beginning of another chapter. I take my place on the chair, finding an angle where the drink looks natural in my hand. My love enters the room, poking fun at the prune juice in my glass. As I look at him with a pleased smile, I hear the shutter go off as our dog enters the frame.

Perfect.

I see this fabricated moment so clearly in my mind. Why did that image of a woman in purple present itself so strongly in my wake? If it's not a vision of my future, is she a character that is demanding attention? I wonder what will unravel in posting this here, if this is something I should forget about, or continue to hone in on. What do you think?