BAILE (Where We Come Home)

Chapter 20 Prize

"Imagine if you were a Leanan sidhe." April looped her arm through mine. "They are like the seductresses of the Fae world and they drink human blood, we'd be like cousins." April loved the idea of me being a Faerie. "Leanan sidhe, literally translates into Faerie-lover, I bet a certain teacher would like the idea of that kind of love." She prodded, releasing my arm as we took our seats in the classroom. "I bet he would taste nice."

"That's too far." I shook my head at her boldness.

Conversations ceased as he entered the room, his friendly manner drawing everyone's attention to him like a magnet.

"Good morning everyone." He smiled radiantly. "Today we are going to discuss consciousness, it's a little leaning towards Psychology, but Psychology and Biology go hand in hand in the scientific world." He interlocked his fingers to demonstrate. "Our physical and psychological selves, are so closely interlinked, they hardly separate at all. Take dreaming, as an example." He wrote the word 'dream' on the world and we all copied it into our books. "Today people believe that dreams contain manifestations of subconscious mental turmoil and that the examination and understanding of the content can help dreamers rid themselves of inner conflict." Mr. O'Sullivan scrawled 'inner turmoil' onto the blackboard. We learnt about the different stages of sleep and the biological side of why and how we dream.
"Has anyone ever heard of lucid dreaming?" He asked the class.

April raised her hand.

"April."

"Lucid dreaming is the ability to consciously observe or control your dreams." April answered.

"Do you know any benefits?"

"It can improve problem solving, increase creativity, and help you face your fears or help you practice new skills.

"Lucid dreaming does have benefits, but it does have high risks. Lucid dreaming is considered generally very safe for those who are mentally stable. Sleep paralysis occurs for almost everyone at night during the REM cycle in order to keep you from physically acting out in your dreams. Despite this, some people experience a state that's between dreaming and waking during lucid dreaming. For these people lucid dreaming can be a frightening because you can't move, even though you are aware that you are awake."

"Can you die?" Someone had to ask.

"In severe cases, but lucid dreaming is a rare experience in itself. None of you have anything to worry about." He assured everyone.

I wasn't too convinced. I woke up drenched in water back in Scotland, how was that increasing my creativity?

The bell rang and I everyone hurried to leave. 

"See you later." April flounced away.

"See you." I went to leave.

"Isla." Mr. O'Sullivan called me over. "If you're free after school I can try and help you with your dream journal." He offered. "I understand if you would prefer to wait until Anna gets back."

"Oh no. I-I don't mind." I kind of wondered what he would make of its contents.

"Good, I don't want to keep you any longer."

I nodded, understanding him. "I'll see you then." I left. I made my way to Photography Club.

"Hey Tinkerbelle." Alick joked with a Cheshire grin.

"Hey Tramp."

"Ooo." He clutched his chest. "That ripped a new one."

I chuckled. "You asked for it." We took our seats.