Dreamland (Includes the Sequel)

Chapter 2: A new world, a new life

Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 11h11 am

Oh! I slept longer than usual. I don't feel like stepping out of bed this morning. And I miss my huge bedroom in the basement. I'm so lazy. I need my coffee, though, and it obviously can't prepare itself. 

Time to get up. 

I look at my cellphone, hoping that my family received the message and answered back. Nope! Mom and grandma are probably panicking. Are they still on earth? I hope they are, because it is a real chaos in Dreamland right now, but I also miss them and feel so alone. I am mostly scared. That man from yesterday is creeping me out. A part of me wants to believe he is the Nathan from my story, but like Brittany said, this is real life. I don't really have a proof. I can't just sit in front of my computer, typing the next chapters and hoping the drama will fade away just like that. She probably thought I was crazy yesterday. What should I do, then? Try to find as much clues as I can without getting in trouble.  How am I gonna do that? There are cameras everywhere and those men wearing black are watching our every moves. What are my plans for today, then? I don't even have the internet here. BORING! The little café down the road might have wi-fi. Let's go there. 

Zelda's Café - 11h53 am

This place is packed with people. I order a small sized caramel iced coffee with a cheese bagel. I wish I could afford that tuscan chicken panini, it looks so tasty. I sit down at a table close to the exit. For the first time since my arrival, I take the time to relax and just enjoy the moment. Everything is so different here. The landscape is so cool and colorful. It looks like a fairytale. From my perspective, people from Dreamland are a lot more friendly, polite, patient and quiet. The fundamental value seems to be ''love''. The families all seem close, the differences seems more respected and everyone seems eager to help each other out without asking anything in return. Art is greatly valued here. People are a lot less materialistic, although the shopping mall is huge. There also seem to be less product waste. I haven't seen a single person living in the street yet. But I might be speaking too soon since I've only been here for a day. I don't know a lot about this place. The lifestyle is still so much better than it was on earth, but the Darkanens makes it harder. Everything could change in a second.

I really should start looking for a job soon.  Not because I want to.  At least living here is a lot more affordable than it was on earth. From what I've heard, the salaries are usually higher and the living cost is so much cheaper. You can easily work 15-20 hours a week with the minimum wage and survive. The usual 30-40 hours a week we have on earth is so demanding and is often not enough to help us meet ends. It's like you work 2/3 of your life just to pay for a place to live that you actually leave vacant most of the time. You work to be able to pay for that expensive car to bring you to work. You work to be able to buy some exaggeratedly expensive food just to survive. And most people still have debts over their heads. They insist you go to college, saying you will be able to land a better job after you receive that piece of paper. To be able to do so, middle classes people have to spend such a large part of their savings and still ask for a student loan that they'll need to repay after. Education shouldn't have to be a privilege, but a fundamental right. Well that's just my opinion, anyway. My low income friend couldn't even afford to take that Nursing course. My other friend wanted to become a secretary, but her grades weren't considered good enough so she have to keep two part-time jobs at the minimum wage that she hates so much. 

I was one of these lucky people who earned excellent grades without studying and I'm from a low-income family that valued my education enough to help me through it. And I was also the one who didn't take my studies seriously. I barely listened in class. Most of all, I hate working stressing jobs that are draining. I prefer writing stories while listening to electronic music. Mr. Simon kept telling me that I should go back to the University and get my Social Work degree. The thing is, I'm getting tired of doing what society expects me to do. I always knew I couldn't earn much money by being an amateur writer or an artist, but I hate those ''traditional'' jobs. I need some time to do what I really like and spend quality time with my family and friends. I don't even care about those expensive things people desire, like luxurious houses and cars. I'd be happy living in a small apartment by myself for most of my life if it means I can get a job I feel comfortable in. Lots of people wants power and fame, while I just want a peaceful life with as less stress and responsibilities as possible. People think of me as an idealist sometimes, but hey, my brainwash is fading. If I have to live, I'm gonna do it my way and be happy. My values are different from most people, but that's okay.