Dreams of Perfection

The Collapse of the Dream

Claire sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the walls of her dream world. The house was quiet, filled with the familiar warmth and laughter of her family just moments ago. Yet, she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling growing in her chest. She knew, deep down, that this world wasn't real. It was a comforting illusion—a place where her father was alive, where everything was perfect. But, after knowing it was an illusion made it harder to fully embrace the happiness it gave her. 

For days now, Claire had been struggling with the weight of that knowledge. Ever since her encounter with the Dream Weaver, the cracks in her perfect world had become more apparent like her family never argue with each other, and they stuck in some kind of loop hole. At first, she tried, she really tried to ignore them, brushing off the strange inconsistencies and the moments that felt too perfect. But the more she tried to hold on to the illusion, the more fragile it became. 

 She sighed, standing up and walking to the window. Outside, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the world. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the sound of her family's laughter echoed from the living room. It was everything she had ever wanted—a life where her family was whole, where her father was here with her. But now, that happiness felt bittersweet. 

 Claire knew she had to make a choice. She could either stay in this dream world, clinging to the illusion of happiness, or she could let go and return to reality—a reality without her father, a reality filled with pain and loss. The thought of leaving terrified her. How could she possibly go back to that emptiness? How could she face a world where her father was truly gone? 

 Yet, at the same time, the dream world was starting to unravel. It wasn't just the small cracks she noticed anymore. The edges of this perfect life were beginning to blur, and the sense of peace she had once felt here was slipping away. The more she clung to the dream, the more it felt like it was slipping through her fingers. 

 Claire walked into the living room, where she found her father sitting, flipping through a newspaper. He looked up and smiled at her, the same warm, comforting smile she had missed so much. 

 "Hey, kiddo," he said, his voice soft and familiar. "Everything alright?" 

 She forced a smile, sitting down next to him on the couch. "Yeah, everything's fine," she lied, though her heart was heavy with confusion. 

 Her father put down the paper and turned to her, his expression concerned. "You sure? You've seemed a little distant lately." 

 Claire hesitated, unsure of what to say. How could she explain the trouble in her mind? How could she tell him that this perfect world—this world where he was still alive—wasn't real? 

 "I'm just... thinking about some things," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her father reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" 

Claire's chest tightened. She wanted so badly to open up, to tell him everything, but how could she? How could she tell him that he wasn't real, that he was just a part of a dream she didn't want to leave? 

 "I know," she whispered, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. 

 They sat in silence for a while, the weight of Claire's inner conflict pressing down on her. Part of her wanted to stay here forever, to hold onto this perfect life where her father was still with her. But another part of her knew that staying would only prolong the inevitable. The dream world couldn't last forever, and the longer she stayed, the harder it would be to leave. 

 Later that night, after her family had gone to bed, Claire sat alone in her room, staring out at the moonlit sky. The Dream Weaver's words echoed in her mind. You must let go of your attachment to this dream if you want to return to your real life. 

But what if she didn't want to return? What if staying in the dream was better than facing the harsh reality waiting for her? 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shift in the room. The air felt heavier, and the familiar warmth of the dream world seemed to dim. Claire glanced around, feeling a strange sense of unease, make her feeling anxious. The cracks in the illusion were growing wider. 

 She stood up, her heart pounding in her chest. The room around her began to shimmer and distort, the walls blurring as if they were made of water. Claire's breath caught in her throat. The dream world was unraveling before her eyes. 

 Panicked, she ran down the hallway, calling out for her father. "PAPA?!" Her voice echoed, but there was no response. 

When she reached the living room, it was empty. The newspaper her father had been reading earlier lay on the floor, but he was nowhere to be seen. The room felt cold, the warmth and life that had filled it earlier now gone. 

 Claire's heart raced as she searched the house, but it was as if her family had vanished into thin air. Her eyes darted everywhere to look for any remaining signs of her family. The perfect world she had clung to for so long was slipping away, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. 

"DREAM, YOU DON'T SAY WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. WHY THERE IS NO WARNING." Claire shouted to who knows who.

She sank to the floor, tears streaming down her face. She had known all along that this world wasn't real, but that didn't make the pain any less painful. The dream had given her the happiness she had so desperately longed for, but now, as it fell apart around her, she was left with nothing but the crushing weight of reality. 

"Dream, Dream Weaver, Please let me talk with my dad for the last time. Please, I am begging you," As Claire said while crying. 

 For what felt like hours, Claire sat there, sobbing quietly. She didn't want to wake up. She didn't want to face a world without her father. But deep down, she knew she had no choice. The dream world was gone, and it was time to let go. 

Before she know, her father appear in front of her. With a smile in his face, and hands that ready to catch his daughter. Seeing that Claire immediately ran towards her father hands. 

"Papa, I don't want to lose you again. I don't want to leave. Papa, This is all difficult, I'm still not ready," Claire said while sobbing in her father hugs. Her father tried to calm his daughter by patting her head. 

"I know it's not easy. I know it's all difficult for you, sweetheart. But you must be. I know you can do it. You are the most strongest child that I know. It is time for you to letting me go," said Claire's father. 

Hearing her father said, she moved slightly away from her father's embrace. "I want to said it all before you gone. Papa, I'm sorry I still can't make you proud. Sorry I still can't achieve my dreams while you are still alive. Sorry if I still make a lot of mistakes. Sorry, Sorry for everything. And thank you papa for raising me until now. Thank you for being a good father to me. Thank you for giving me a comfortable home. Thank you for everything," She said while trying to be strong, trying to smile, not to cry in front of her father one last time. 

 As the last trace of the dream began to fade, her father also starts to fade, Claire closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She would wake up soon, and when she did, she would have to face the grief she had been avoiding. It wouldn't be easy, but she couldn't stay lost in a fantasy forever. 

 With one final tearful sigh, Claire said loudly to her father, "Goodbye, Dad. I will always miss you," before the dream world faded completely, leaving her alone in the darkness.