1 The Dreamer & the Dream Girl

I've had this dream for a while now. The same one that I had every day. It involved me with a girl whose face I couldn't recognize as a moving shadow covered it at all times.

We stood on a wooden bridge near the lake and stared at the water. As we admired it, just like every other time, our hands intertwined with each other's as we stayed silent.

It went on like this for a while before she moved on to ask the same question in a soft, gentle voice.

"Ian, what is it you wish for?"

"—"

I stayed silent. Many things came to mind whenever she asked me that. But this time, I didn't want to answer. Because every time I do answer, the dream would always end with her smiling at me, not a single word leaving her mouth.

So I continued to stare at the moving water.

"Are you not gonna give me an answer?" she asked in a more aggressive tone.

"Well, can you at least introduce yourself before asking?"

I threw my arms out in an exaggerated manner as the girl giggled.

"I thought we already introduced ourselves the first time we met?"

"Yeah, but I can never understand it!" I said with my arms crossed.

She giggled once more. "It's ————"

"Oh wow that's helpful," I said in an annoyingly high-pitched voice. "I can't even make out the pronunciation."

"Do you want me to spell it out for you?"

"No, please," I said with my hand raised. "I'm fine, thank you."

She gave me an irresistible smile and smacked my hand with hers, locking our fingers together before the scene resets.

It was silent once again, and I went back to look at the lake once more.

I wished we could stay like this for a while. But, once again, as we peered at the lake, the girl looked at me as she squeezed my hand.

"So, Ian, what is it you wish for?" she asked once more.

I felt the pressure strengthening every time I avoided her question. This time, I had to answer.

"Hm, I don't know." I said, looking up at the starry sky. "I've already said a handful of wishes to you."

"I mean, you can always repeat the same wish you know," she said with a smile.

"Hm, actually, I don't think I need to repeat any of my wishes. I already got one in my head."

"Let's hear it then."

I took a deep breath. "I wish I could be a bit more positive…"

I looked over at her.

"A bit more positive?" she said, exaggerating the words 'a bit' with her smug smile.

I looked at her surprised. The dream wasn't ending yet.

"Uh, yeah! I mean, why wouldn't I? I've been feeling pretty pessimistic lately and I figure I just need to be more cheerful to feel better."

"Hm…"

"What is it?" I asked, looking at her.

"Hm, nothing," she said with her arms crossed.

The bridge that we stood on was beginning to collapse from the sides. The water was slowly rising and the moon seemed to be getting larger and larger. This was the end.

"Ah, I uh, I guess I gotta get going," I said to the girl with long black hair.

"Huh? You gotta go?"

"Uh, yeah. I should probably get ready for tomorrow." I said with a light chuckle.

"Aw, and right when things were getting interesting too…" She said as she pouted, our hands still together.

"Oh well then. Until next time," she said with a smile on her face.

I smiled back at the girl. "Yeah, see you next time."

I stared at the ceiling while I was laying in bed.

"The dream didn't end with just a smile…"

It confused me. It worried me. But also…

"She spoke," I said with a smile. "SHE SPOKE!"

It gave me a glimpse of hope.