Birthday Blues

Chapter 8 : Hear me out..

As she opens her eyes, she sees the glimpse of a strange looking room.
It's neither her room in the dream world, nor in reality.
For some reason, she can't even move.
All she can do is blink.
Everything seems blurry and foggy, she can't make sense of anything.
It's so noisy around her, she hears people shouting uncomprehensible things repeatidly.
An unknown man wearing white leans down and looks her right in the eyes and that's when she closes her eyes again and everything turns to black.
The chatter around her slowly fades to nothing.
For a while, she feels like she's floating in nowhere.

Seconds later, a loud alarm frightens her out of her sleep.
She finds herself in her dream life again. Her heart still beating fast from what she saw just seconds ago.
She has no idea what she just experiences. Was that a nightmare..?
She finally gathers the strength to wake up and go on with her day.
As she enters the kitchen as usual, her parents greet her.
She sits down and munches slowly on her food, still unable to erase the idea of the nightmare she just saw.
" I had a nightmare, just right before waking up.."
"Oh no, dear.. Try not to think about it for too long."
" I mean, I've been having weird dreams those days. Like waking up to find myself.. in another reality." Diane tries to lightly hint at her experience to her parents.
They exchange worried glances.
"Another reality? How so?"
" I don't know.. A reality that's the opposite of mine. And it keeps occuring. Today when I opened my eyes, I was in a room that looked so scary and empty. I heard a lot of strangers talk next to me but I couldn't see them.."
A moment of silence passes before her dad speaks again.
"Those are just dreams, dear. Don't think about it for too long. It may be caused by stress too. "
She nodds, but deep down, wishes she could confront them about everything that's been happening.

After getting everything ready, Diane heads to college.

Soon enough, she sits with her friends at lunch.
"Diane, you've been so quiet today. What's the deal?" Carolyn asks her in concern.
"I'm not sure, Carolyn. Something has been bothering me."
"Then share it with us, maybe we can help." Amy proposes to which the other two girls agree.
" I'm sure you guys won't believe me..
But what if I told you that everything we've been experiencing, is nothing but a passing dream?" Diane bravely decides to confront them with the crushing truth.
The three girls pause for a moment while glancing at each other, before they all burst into laughter.
"What? Have you been watching fantasy movies those days?" Sarah jokes while laughing hysterically.
"No.. I knew you wouldn't believe me. But that's the truth."
Laughter only intensifies as she keeps convincing them.
" I mean, whose dream is it?" Amy asks holding back her laughter.
"Mine.. I woke up and suddenly found myself here, living a reality that's the opposite of my real one."
"So.. we all are just characters, of your dream ? That's what you're trying to say.?"
"Yes, unfortunately. It could also be that my wish actually came true, but I guess that's impossible.."
The three girls stare at each other, their laughter slowly fading into concern.
"Gosh, you're starting to scare me! Stop, it's not funny!" Carolyn exclaims.
"Sorry.. but that's really what I have been experiencing. That's why I kept asking weird questions."
"Diane.. I don't know what you're talking about, but if you're really serious about it, I think you should see a psychiatrist. "
It's not as if she expected a different reaction from them, but she still feels dissapointed. Everytime she thinks she has figured out what was happening, that thought gets quickly shattered and she finds herself questionning everything  all over again.

After going back home, she sees her brother busy watching tv in the living room. She quietly approches him as he's the only person who isn't imaginary.
"Mark, can we talk?"
"Go on, you're already talking."
"I've been having weird dreams those days.."
"You too? My dreams are looking so similar to the video games I play those days.."
"I'm serious Mark. Please, I need you to hear me out."
"All I remember is that I had some sleeping pills then slept, only to wake up in a totally different reality, which is this one."
"Diane.."
"Hear me out please.."
" It was my birthday. I was extremely sad and I made a wish. The next morning I woke up to find myself with everything I've ever wished for.
I was so happy at first, thinking it was a dream. But after opening my eyes to see myself somewhere else today, I'm starting to think there's more to this.."
"Diane... what on earth are you talking about ?! It's as if you were possessed or something!" Mark shouts, while blinking fastly nervousness aparent in his behaviour.
"I just told you the truth Mark. Everything here is too perfect, don't you think so? Those people aren't our real parents, our real ones abandoned us.
It was just you and me for a while until you moved to Germany. And then you got a job and got married and even have two kids, Michelle and Todd.."
"You think it's funny? huh?"
"No, Mark.. I really am not kidding. Please, believe me." Diane says as she tears up.
"I wish this was real too, but it isn't.. It really isn't. And I just want to understand what I'm going through..
I'm starting to think that I actually died that night and this may be heaven-"
"Enough! We're going to the hospital right this second! This can't be normal, you're losing your mind!"
Mark hurries up to their parents to tell them about what happened.

Soon enough, Diane finds herself infront of a psychiatrist.