Alter Ego [Karlnap]

ALTER EGO COMPLEX

4-8 Residual Dream

"Well, look who showed up, I grew tired of waiting. Mmm... such dreams I've been having all this time... even in my dreams, I was reading all the while. It's all there is for me to do, after all... both here and in my dreams," Karl shared.

"There have been some stranger books amongst those I've read... I tumbled down into picture books and took the form of a rabbit... or Princess Kaguya... or Alice," this emitted a laugh from Sapnap.

"Did you just laugh...? Yes... well. They were very childish dreams. You... of course, you were there, too. In my dreams, I was so very alone... just waiting for you. Alone in this room, it's so quiet, so lonesome. The loneliness I could bear before I met you... it's just too much for me now," Karl voiced.

"That's why I would dream, even in dreams... of you and I, alone in our own little dream land. Dreaming within dreams, living within dreams, drowning in dreams... forever dreaming... forever and ever. Ah... those dreams in which I go about life with you in another place," Karl reminisced.

"They're so wonderful. They're just so... dreamy. So much so that I become afraid of waking... so... very... and yet, however lovely, you're still an illusion in a dream. In my dreams, I can never touch you, no matter how far I reach. Time stays frozen for me- unchanging," he quavered.

"I know... I know that it's a mistake... if I escape into dream, I can't keep my promise to you. I promised that I would always welcome you... I'll be waiting here. If I took refuge in my dreams and wasn't here when you arrived... I would be breaking my promise. That's why I... I... I really... am so glad to see... that you came back."

"If I remained alone, even after waking... I would just seek my dreams again, so... hey... I... have a selfish request... Just for a little while. Just for now... I want you to take my hand. In my dreams, I could never feel your hand in mine."

Sapnap took Karl's hand and interlaced their fingers, giving a light squeeze.

"Oh..." Karl spoke, a series of giggles come after.

"Thank you... that's enough. It's quite embarrassing actually, especially to ask, I hadn't realized it would be. But, at last, I know how it feels. I'm so glad I woke up. I won't ask you to come every single day... but when you're tired of wandering or need to talk... I'll always be here. Come find me, I'll be waiting."