Another World

Prologue

        I've never slept a day in my life that I can remember. Probably because I can't.

        My name's Mae (pronounced May) Eaton and I have a normal life, or at least as normal as it can be for an average 15-year-old girl. Most days, I go to school, I come home, and do my homework, (sometimes...) then I travel into my world, (instead of sleeping,) which I named Echovale. My parents know, but I don't think they really understand what it is. Honestly any time we talk about it their faces glaze over and they change the subject. Frankly it's a bit terrifying. So I think I'm just writing this down because even if no one will ever really believe me, I'll at least pass it off as a cool story. But back to the "fiction."

        I'm a daydreamer, I really am. In the middle of most of my classes my mind will drift off into some random fantasy. Either baking really cute cupcakes, or meditating on Venus and actually not burning up or being squashed by the insane gravity. Or maybe even eating a bunch of pastries. But here's the thing about my fantasies. They come to life. Somehow, all of my daydreams wind up in one place.

        It's a place only I can go, as far as I know. I can alter it, but not with my will or any psychological tricks. I have to change it when I'm in the world with real force and tools. So if I want a rock to be on the other side of a stream, I don't get to magically levitate it. I have to pick it up and get dirty doing it. Well, since most of my fantasies aren't that realistic, maybe I won't get dirty. Anytime that Echovale expands, it isn't because I thought, hey, this should be bigger! It's only when I daydream more. And I can't purposely insert stuff into Echovale. None of that nonsense. Then I'd be way OP. But I'm not, so no worries.

        Oh, and if any of you are wondering how in the heck I'm not dead, considering I've never slept a day in my life, then please get a neurologist to come check me out because I have no idea either.

        I step into my world, and I take in the view like it was for the first time. There are vibrant colors, jungle vines and trees all over. It is always nice and warm and sunny, but not obnoxiously. There are exotic flowers everywhere, but not so you can't enjoy the beautiful green leaves and vines. There are these great shoes that everyone wears that have small feathered wings attached slightly above the heel. Word of warning, I'm a huge geek in general, though I do have a special place in my heart for mythology. I was about to go into way more detail than you needed about the shoes. Basically they're flying sandals. Dark feathers, tan straps.

        I smile as I remember my last visit. I sat in a hammock, read, and curled up happily in the sunlight. Some days, or rather nights, are  peaceful, and others are filled with adventure. Some are even life-threatening. Like this one is going to be, I realize as I step down the aged steps into a clearing. My clothing shifts into dragon scale armor, and I embrace my impending doom. I know I'll die, but it's okay.