Colligere

Chapter 1: Pleasant dreams

   Cora sat herself on the bench in the park, away from most of the other people who dreamed themselves into this world. The aspects of this world weren't real, but she was used to that by now. This was all a dream, she was well aware, and could feel her actual body in the present time. She could feel the warm texture of a blanket draped across her body. This dream was similar to lucid dreaming, except she was more in control of what she could do. And for once, she was more aware of things then she was in her world; the real world.

Every night when she dozed off, she was somehow able to travel into this dream-like world; a harmonious place if, of course, you lingered with the right people. It had become a routine for her, traveling to this world. Cora couldn't recall when she had even started wandering into this world when she slept, but it was a divine place, full of things she was not able to have in her waking life. There were other people here too, ones that were also transported here as they slept. People of this world were often referred to as "distant travelers" or "world wanderers" And while others usually enjoyed the company of other visitors in this tranquil place, Cora preferred the bench away from everyone else, admiring the scenery with a nice open book, the sound of birds singing, the rustling of the leaves on the trees, and the cool breeze that made the tall grass sway gracefully. The vivid blue sky matched the shimmering pond beautifully.

Cora sighed contently. A gust of wind gently swept her hair back. She was reading The Fault In Our Stars, she had already read it many times, but it was her favorite book. She was in love with the two main characters acerbic wit. She was reading the part where the two main characters met when the world suddenly seemed to fade, along with her book. Cora was familiar with this, it signaled that she was waking up.

Her eyes flicked open to see the familiar surroundings of her bedroom. She glanced out of her window to see the dawn's light. She swung her feet off her bed and stood up, stretching. It was almost sunrise, which meant she'd have to get ready for school soon. Cora groaned internally, after that pleasant experience she didn't find doing work ideal at all. If it wasn't for her guilty conscience, she would pretend to be sick, but as it was, she had very good grades and she wasn't very good at lying anyways, so that was out of the question.

Although the idea of returning to that dream fulfilled world was appeasing, Cora knew it would be smart of her to start getting ready for school. Besides, she had to complete the homework she was assigned the day before. She had neglected at the time so she could rush to the dream-world, longing for its peaceful aura. Cora yawned and went to retrieve fresh clothing for her shower. The water pattered on her back, and she tilted her head upward, closing her eyes, and letting herself relax. When she had rinsed her hair of the soapy suds, and scrubbed her body, she turned the water off and dried her body with the blue towel she had set out for herself. Cora thoroughly dried her hair and clothed herself in comfortable blue jeans and a white blouse. Though Cora wasn't much for fashion, she did somewhat make an effort to look nice.

She went down the stairs to find her parents on the couch, watching the morning news. Neither one looked over to her, their eyes glued to the screen. She glanced at the clock on the wall and found it was 6:30 A.M. She was taken aback by it, maybe she enjoyed that shower a little too much.

Cora, as every morning went, got herself situated at the kitchen table and pulled her textbooks out. It had become a habit that she do her homework before school. She wasn't annoyed though, her dreams had definitely improved her mood, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by her parents. They just thought she had found a hobby that kept her occupied, which she supposed she had, if sleeping counted. But she wasn't going to correct them, it'd be weird if she admitted "oh yeah, by the way, when I sleep I drift off to another world." They'd tell her to grow up and stop acting like a child, even though was only 16. When Cora had finished her work she looked at the clock which read 6:50 A.M.