夢中夢 DREAM IN A DREAM

夢中夢

~~~"Dream Within a Dream"~~~

The world shimmered with a faint golden hue, as if lit by an eternal sunrise. In this place, the lines between reality and fantasy dissolved, leaving only sensation and memory. Ren stood amidst a field of softly swaying reeds, their silken tips brushing against his fingertips. He could not recall how he arrived, only that he felt compelled to move forward, guided by a soundless rhythm resonating in his chest.

Ahead, a figure danced. Fluid and ethereal, their movements painted a story in the air—a story of longing and connection. The dancer's robes trailed like ribbons caught in an unseen wind, their face veiled but not unfamiliar. Ren's heart tightened with recognition, though he could not name who they were.

As he stepped closer, the reeds parted to reveal a circular stone platform, carved with intricate symbols that seemed to shift under his gaze. The dancer's pace quickened, their gestures now weaving an urgency that Ren could feel in his bones. He wanted to call out to them, to ask their name, but his voice was swallowed by the vast stillness of the dreamscape.

"You've been here before," the dancer said at last, their voice soft as the rustling reeds. They paused mid-spin, extending a hand toward him. "Don't you remember?"

Ren hesitated. The words sparked a distant familiarity, like the echo of a forgotten melody. He stepped onto the platform, his hand reaching toward theirs. The moment their fingers brushed, a surge of memories flooded his mind—flashes of another life, another meeting in this same dreamlike realm.

He saw himself chasing this same figure, time and again, never quite reaching them before the dream dissolved. But this time, something was different. He held their hand tightly, refusing to let them slip away.

"Who are you?" he whispered. "What is your name?"

The dancer's smile was bittersweet, a curve of lips that hinted at ancient sorrow. "Names are cages in this world. If I give you mine, you will trap me in the waking realm, where I cannot survive."

"I am a reflection of your heart," they replied, their voice trembling like the surface of water. "A dream within your dream. If you wake, I will vanish."

Ren's grip tightened, fear clawing at him. "Then I won't wake."

The dancer smiled, sorrow and affection blending in their expression. "You must. To dream endlessly is to forget the waking world. And there is beauty there, too, even if it feels incomplete."

As the words settled in his mind, the world began to unravel. The golden light fractured into shards, the reeds fading into mist. The dancer began to dissolve, their hand slipping from his grasp.

"Wait!" Ren cried, his voice breaking. "I don't want to lose you again."

"You never truly lose me," the dancer said, their form now a blur of light and shadow. "Close your eyes, and I will always return."

Ren shut his eyes tightly, tears slipping down his cheeks. When he opened them again, he was lying in his bed, sunlight streaming through the window. The echo of the dream lingered—a bittersweet ache in his chest and the faint scent of reeds in the air.

Though he was awake, he knew the dancer's words were true. In his dreams, they would meet again, weaving their story anew—a dream within a dream, forever intertwined.