I had a dream… and someone saved me.
And now I want to meet him again.
Ahhh… am I in love?
Do I…?
Yeah… maybe.
No, Rachel. Stop. Don't be stupid.
Be real. Don't overthink.
But that guy… he felt so real. So cool.
Ugh, stop it. Just stop.
(Mom from the kitchen)
"Hey, Rachel! Wake up! Don't you want to go to work early? You're getting late, lazy girl!"
I groaned, rubbing my eyes, still holding onto the fading pieces of that dream.
"What time is it…?"
Wait. What?
"It's 9 a.m."
My heart dropped.
"Oh my God. I'm actually going to be late. For real this time."
(20 minutes later)
"Hey Mom, good morning. I'm late. I'll eat on the bus."
I grabbed my sandwich and tiffin from her hands and rushed out of the house without another thought.
Now I am standing at the bus stop.
Alone. Late. Restless.
I missed the bus.
Perfect.
"Should I take a cab… or wait? I am so dead. My manager is going to destroy me today."
"Hey, Rachel!"
I turned, slightly startled.
"You going to the office? I can give you a lift. I'm heading that way too."
Relief washed over me instantly.
"Julie? Oh my God, thank you. You just saved my life. You are literally a goddess."
She laughed softly. "Don't be dramatic. I am your friend, dumbo. Not a miracle."
Still… she felt like one.
Julie. My best friend since childhood. Kind, warm, effortlessly beautiful.
Her straight black hair always shining, that small heart shaped locket resting against her neck. Her eyes naturally captivating, pulling attention without trying.
"Here, you reached. On time."
I let out a deep breath.
"Thank you, Julie. I love you. I'll text you later."
"Love you too. Take care."
My office is just a regular accounting firm. But my boss?
Strict. Intense. And obsessed with time.
I avoid his cabin like it carries bad luck.
"Hey, Rachel. Can you help me with this?"
I turned.
"Yeah, sure."
That's Sam.
My office buddy. My partner in survival.
We joined at the same time, same age, same chaos. He just gets things.
"Lunch time," he suddenly said, snatching my file. "No work now. I want your tiffin."
"Sam, give it back. Just two minutes."
"No. I know you. No excuses. Come on."
I sighed. "Fine."
(Cafeteria)
He took one bite and closed his eyes dramatically.
"Your mom is the best chef ever."
I smiled faintly. "I know."
"Want anything else? I'll get it."
He already knew what I liked.
He always did.
Sam is good looking, tall, easygoing. The kind of person who makes everything feel lighter. He talks about love, life, growth like everything has meaning.
Like everything will be okay.
But my mind…
My mind is still stuck in that dream.
That nightmare.
And him.
The one who saved me.
---
"What are you thinking?"
I blinked.
"Nothing. You're back?"
He looked at me carefully. "Something's off. Tell me."
I hesitated.
"I saw a dream. Not just a dream. A nightmare."
"Oh? Did it scare you again?"
"It did… but that's not the point."
I paused, feeling my chest tighten slightly.
"Someone saved me. A guy. When I was sure I was going to die."
Sam smiled.
"Maybe that was me."
I rolled my eyes immediately. "Sam, please. Stop."
"He was like an anime character," I muttered. "And you… you are very real."
"Wow. That hurts."
I smirked a little. "Good."
He chuckled. "Fine. Tell me everything later. We should go back. Break is over."
"Yeah… sure."
But even as I stood up, my thoughts stayed behind.
With him.
(Evening)
Finally, work is over.
"I'm exhausted," I whispered.
"See you Monday?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. Take care."
The bus ride felt longer than usual.
When I reached home, my body felt heavy, but my mind refused to rest.
"Oh, I forgot to text Julie."
"Hey, I'm home. Wanna come over for dinner?"
A few minutes later.
Seen.
Then a reply.
"Sorry babe, I'm out with colleagues. Tomorrow for sure. Take care."
"It's okay. Enjoy."
---
It is 9 p.m.
The house is quiet.
Mom is already asleep.
I sit in my room, eating alone, the silence wrapping around me like something alive.
"Should I watch something?"
No.
"I am too tired."
I lie down slowly.
And my eyes got closed
I fell asleep .
(Unknown Scene)
Does she love me?
Or is it just a shadow of desire she clings to?
Maybe she loves the version of me that exists only in her mind.
Not the one who truly exists.
Not the one who watches her from the spaces between dreams.
If I tell her the truth…
If I whisper that I was the one who saved her…
She would not believe me.
How could she?
She knows nothing about what I am.
Or what follows me.
Why am I like this?
Why do I wander through dreams and nightmares as if they are worlds I belong to?
I do not sleep.
I cross over.
I know when I am dreaming.
I can feel it. Bend it. Survive it.
As if the dream is alive.
As if it is watching me back.
Am I alone?
Or are there others like me?
Others who walk between worlds…
Who wake up with memories that feel older than reality itself?
And if she ever sees me again…
Will she recognize me?
Or will I remain…
Just a stranger ?