Dreamwalker

Dreamwalking

I take a deep breath and open my eyes. I’m lying on my back in the middle of my park. I look around for Jeremy, and finally spot him sitting on one of the benches by the border. I walk over and sit next to him.

          “Listen Penny, I know there’s a reason for your sanctuary to be a park…I could tell you were scared, or at least hesitant, to fall asleep in the park.” He turns to look at me, and gives me a small smile.

          “A sanctuary can tell you a lot about a person…but I’m not going to ask you why, I know that when, and if you’re ready, you’ll tell me.” I swallow nervously and stare at my hands. I’m not ready to tell him yet…I can’t tell anyone.

          “Thank you for not asking.” He shrugs and bumps his shoulder against mine.

          “I will never push you to tell me something you don’t want to.” I give him a smile and then stand up.

          “Well are we going to your dreamscape or what?” He stands up and grins.

          “You ready for this?” I nod, and he takes a deep breath.

          “Okay, this is going to be a little weird since you’ve never really dreamwalked before, just go with it and do exactly what I say without hesitation, alright?” I nod again and he gives me a smile. “This is going to be fun…promise.” He takes my hand and leads me over to the border, explaining as he goes.

          “So since I’m the one leading, you’re going to kind of be like a passenger. I’ll teach you later how to navigate on your own, but for now just follow my lead.” He pauses at the border and looks at me. “Close your eyes.” I stare at him for a moment, and he pretends to scold me. “Obey without hesitation remember?” I roll my eyes and then close them. “Okay, watch your step.” He pulls me forward slightly and I step over the border. “Open your eyes.” I do as he says, and then gasp.

          We’re standing on a fire escape connected to a sky scraper…in the middle of a city. I gasp and take a step back. Jeremy keeps a tight hold on my hand and pulls me forward slightly.

          “Whoa, watch it there. What you just experienced is called a jump. We’ve basically jumped from one dreamscape to another.” I turn my head take in the city, I’ve never visited a big city before, but I’ve seen them in movies.

          “You mean we’re now in your mind?” He shrugs.

          “That’s one way to think about it. We were in your sanctuary in your dreamscape, when we stepped out of your sanctuary, I jumped through your dreamscape into mine. The dreamscape is anything your imagination can think of, if we had stayed in yours, we would’ve just ended up in the forest.”

          “Because that’s what I was expecting to be on the other side of the border?” He nods.

          “Exactly. We’re in my dreamscape now, so all we have to do is find our way to my sanctuary.” I raise my eyebrows in surprise.

          “You’re sanctuary?” He nods with a small smile.

          “You’ve let me into yours, so it’s only fair you are able to come into mine.” I smile, and blush slightly. From what he’s told me, a sanctuary is something very personal.

          “Okay…but what do you mean by find our way? Can’t you just go to it?” He nods, looking around the city as he does.

          “Yes, I could just jump there, but you’ve never been before, and I haven’t let you in, so you need to find it the hard way.” He turns to me and grins, taking my hand again. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here to guide you, so it won’t really be that hard.” I roll my eyes at him.