That night, Emma's dreams whisked her away to a romantic evening with Jessica. The setting was idyllic—a charming café bathed in a warm, ambient glow. However, as Emma reached out, she was startled to find that her delicate hands, adorned with painted nails, had been replaced by the robust, muscular hands of a man. The grip was firm and assertive, strikingly reminiscent of John's. As she explored her unfamiliar hands, she became increasingly aware of their strength and the broader, more masculine shoulders that supported them. This realization was so startling that it jolted her awake.
When dawn arrived, Emma and John were busy in the kitchen, preparing breakfast together. Despite the morning's normalcy, Emma's mind kept drifting back to the peculiar dream. The sensation of déjà vu was palpable. As she worked alongside John, she couldn't help but notice how closely his physique mirrored that of the dream's mysterious man. His muscular build and height seemed almost like an extension of the dream's vivid reality.
Good morning, Emma," John greeted, flipping a pancake with practiced ease. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good morning, John," Emma replied, her voice carrying a hint of distraction. "I had the strangest dream last night. You were in it, but—" She paused, searching for the right words. "Ah never mind..."
Emma tried to focus on their conversation but found herself repeatedly glancing at John, the dream's eerie parallels lingering in her thoughts, unable to describe it to John as to not make him feel creeped.
Seeing as Emma stopped replying John ended the conversation.
When Jessica came back to her senses, she noticed John, seemingly lost in his own world, his focus entirely absorbed by the glowing screen of his phone. His fingers moved with a practiced ease, scrolling through an endless stream of messages and notifications, his expression unreadable, as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist. He barely looked up, his attention locked in the virtual space, oblivious to the moment.
Emma, who had been quietly observing from a short distance, felt a familiar mix of curiosity and frustration bubbling up inside her. She studied John, trying to understand what held his interest so intently, but all she saw was the unbroken connection between him and his device. As the minutes ticked by, her frustration deepened, and a bitter thought crossed her mind.
She let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh, her gaze fixed on John's absorbed demeanor. A troubling thought crossed her mind—had he even taken the time to reach out to Jessica, his girlfriend? "Too busy, huh?" she muttered under her breath, a subtle irritation lacing her tone. "If only he knew how to appreciate someone like Jessica."
Emma's mind wandered, contemplating the myriad ways a relationship could be nurtured and kept meaningful. It was a delicate balance, she knew—one that required attention, effort, and the simple act of showing up. She shook her head, slightly incredulous at John's apparent lack of attention to his girlfriend.
From Emma's perspective, Jessica was nothing short of a gem—an absolute treasure in any man's life. It baffled her to think that John might be letting someone so remarkable slip away, all because of something as trivial as neglecting to send a simple text. To Emma, it bordered on sacrilege, a careless disregard for something precious.
The thought gnawed at her, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration on Jessica's behalf. How could John not see what was right in front of him? How could he be so absorbed in his own world that he failed to appreciate the gift he had? Emma's thoughts swirled, her bemusement growing as she silently lamented the missed opportunities and the ease with which something so special could be lost.
A playful yet determined thought crossed Emma's mind: if John couldn't understand the value of treating someone special after earning their trust and love, perhaps the best way for him to learn that is to make him reexperience all the hardship that come with acquiring it all for a second time. Her mind raced through the possibilities, considering how best to teach him this vital lesson. However, she quickly realized that making him break up with Jessica and reintroducing themselves to each other as strangers might be too extreme. The risk was too high—Jessica might become too sad and angry about the breakup, and that could ruin everything.
Emma frowned slightly, dismissing the idea as too harsh. She knew it was essential to find a way to make John appreciate what he had without causing unnecessary pain. The situation required a delicate touch, one that would allow John to see the importance of his relationship without jeopardizing it in the process.
Instead, Emma decided to take a different approach—one that was less drastic but still had the potential to make a significant impact. She came up with an innovative solution that could subtly teach John the value of his relationship with Jessica without causing any real-world harm.
She purchased a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) headset, renowned for its highly immersive "real-life simulation" games. These VR experiences were designed to replicate real-world scenarios with astonishing accuracy, offering players a unique opportunity to explore different aspects of life from new perspectives. Emma saw this as the perfect platform for John to gain a renewed appreciation for his relationship.
That evening, as John was unwinding after a long day, Emma approached him with the VR headset. "Hey, John," she began casually, holding out the sleek device. "I got this new VR headset. It's supposed to be incredibly realistic—wanna give it a try?"
John glanced at the headset with interest. "Oh, really? That looks pretty cool. What kind of games does it offer?"
Emma smiled, eager to pique his curiosity. "It's not just games. It's more like real-life simulations. You can immerse yourself in different scenarios that feel almost real. I thought it might be fun for us to explore."
John's curiosity was clearly piqued. "Sounds intriguing. I'm definitely up for trying something new. What's the first simulation like?"
Emma handed him the headset with a sense of excitement. "The simulations are designed to help you experience various perspectives and situations. It's meant to be thought-provoking and insightful. I believe you'll find it quite eye-opening."
As John took the headset and examined it, Emma felt a surge of anticipation. She hoped the VR experience would provide John with a new perspective on his relationship with Jessica, showing him the importance of cherishing what he had. Emma knew this approach was subtle but effective—offering John a chance to reflect on his actions and decisions in a meaningful way. Her goal was to guide him toward a deeper understanding of the value of love, trust, and attention, all while keeping his relationship with Jessica intact and unharmed.
YOU ARE READING
Mirror Image
General FictionJohn's anticipation was sky-high as he touched down in Miami, ready to surprise his girlfriend Jessica with a week of sun, fun, and romance. But his excitement quickly turns to frustration when his luggage goes missing and Jessica is suddenly called...
