Shadows of the Dream Realm

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶?

Samantha💫

Walking into the place I call my home always seems to leave a familiar stillness. It's the kind of quiet that holds the echoes of laughter, long since faded, and the comforting remnants of memories. Yet it's intertwined with secrets, coating every wall like a heavy layer of paint.

It's as if the house itself remembers too much. I can put on a brave face when I'm distracted, but reality sinks in the moment I'm alone.

After locking the door behind me, I notice how dry my mouth is. I place my keys down on the kitchen table, and head for the fridge. I catch sight of the note I left myself a couple days ago, and let out a sigh.

Install security cameras

It's important for me to be safe so I need to call the security company first thing in the morning. There's been so much going on around me that I keep forgetting to make it a priority.

As I open the fridge, my eyes scan the practically empty shelves in front of me. There's a couple small items but not enough to last me through the next month. I grab a cold water bottle, and take a long sip from it before continuing upstairs.

Each step I take feels heavier than the last, I know I need to get some rest soon. Pushing the door open to my bedroom, I step inside and immediately feel a shift in the room.

A sense of shock washes over my body as I look around my room, eyes piercing upon the flower. It was once a vibrant and beautiful flower! Except it now looks grey and drained of life. Even the wood around the bedside table looks rotted and old.

Within less than a day, the flower that I bloomed was now wilted.

What happened to you?

As I grasp the dull and lifeless flower in my hand, it slowly loses its solid structure. The flower dissolved into what feels like sand. I watch as the grey pile falls out of my hand and through my fingers. 

I was only out of the house for five hours, how could it a fade away so quickly?

That flower was more than just a token from the dream realm. It was a piece of a place where I no longer have to hide parts of myself. Where I am free without the weight of expectations!

That beautiful flower was a symbol that even the impossible seemed natural.

The last drops of sand fall from my hand and into the trash next to my nightstand. I wipe my hand on my pants and watch the dust cloud over the fabric. I close my eyes and take a deep breath trying to ignore the upset feelings I have.

As I exhale I hear a small creak break the silence. It's faint, almost inaudible, but very noticeable. I listen closely, and wonder if there's somebody else inside the house with me. A couple seconds go by of complete stillness and I let out a sigh.

For a moment all I could hear was my own breathing, but then the creak comes back again. A soft creak that sounds as if someone is shifting their weight on the floorboards just outside my door.

I grip the doorknob, hesitating for a second before I swing the door open. The hallway is empty. After a couple nervous laughs, i convince myself I'm just a little on edge lately. I turn to the bathroom, getting ready for bed, and peering out into the hall as if the noise I heard will come back.

With a final, shaky breath, i turn back to my room, and close the door. Exhaustion weighs on me like a heavy blanket, pulling me towards my bed. I pull the covers over me, my body sinking into the familiar softness of the bed. My eyes fall heavy and before I know it, I'm drifting off into the shadows of the dream realm.

At first it's subtle- a faint blur of colors and sounds that shift around me. The sky above me is swirling with light shades of blue and purple. I can feel the sun radiating beams of sunlight that melt onto my skin.

It feels so comfortable to be here

Ahead of me, there is a little pond with fish swimming inside of it. The water's surface glistens and ripples ever so slightly. The rocks and stones piling around the pond look purposely designed and in place.

I bend down to get a closer look, and watch the fish continue to make loops. Dipping my fingers slowly into the water, and in the middle of the circle the fish are making. Curiosity takes over and I wonder if I can change anything about this pond.

As the fish brush against my skin, I focus on the beautiful blue and purple hues in the sky. Within mere moments, each silver scale on every fish changes into shades of indigo and azure.

I smile in amazement at the little changes I've made. As the water continues to bounce around with ripples, another reflection appears in the water.

I look up from the pond and there standing across from it is the overseer. When his eyes meet mine, a wave of calm washes over me.

"Welcome back, Samantha" he says, his voice peaceful to the ear.

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YEYYYY THE OVERSEER IS BACK🗣️ I love writing chapters with him in it. Comment and vote please!