Guides - Dreams and Reality

What? 

Solanne's eyes traveled from left to right trying to understand where is she and where is this place? 

'Am I dreaming again?' She panicked. She's outside the cabin, they were in the beach earlier so how? 

Heaving her breath, she tried to calm down. where in the world is she now? 

Right in front of her eyes where out of this world architecture with towers and landscapes that seemed to touch the heavens. All of these architectures seemed to whispers different tales, secrets, and unfathomable possibilities. Solanne can feel it down to her bones. It was like she was living in an oasis of dreams, and a canvas that enthralled wonderers to be drawn in the essence of fantasy. 

A place full of adventure. 

How could such place exist? 

The more Solanne stared at it the more she was in daze. She can't peel her eyes off the scene. 

The sky glowed so beautifully without the sun, and the longer Solanne In this very instance, Solanne felt like she was on the far edges of reality. 

There was this feeling seeping deep through her. A destination where everything was plausible. A haven that transcends the wall of the monotonous everyday life. This very sight was like a magic that invites wonders into the realm of the unimaginable wonder. 

Solanne heaved her breath. The moment she clenched her right hand, she felt the soft texture of a paper. 

'A train ticket?' She mumbled in her mind as she read what was written. 

"The place of dreams." 

This…

This is their destination. 

She's here. Yet… Solanne looked around once again. She tried looking for a familiar figure, yet, she can't find him. 

Yael. 

Where did he go? 

As what she can remember, they were playing with the ocean waves near the beach. It was dark and the only light they were using was their phone. Yet, she's here now.

She's alone. 

Solanne's expression was unreadable. In contrast to her surprised expression earlier, now, all of her excitement seemed to have died down. She's finally here after a long train ride. What to do now? 

What was her purpose being here in the first place? What are all of these dreams all about? 

'Are there even people here?' She asked inwardly. As soon as the question popped on her mind, she saw a child walking aimlessly. She was wearing a white dress and on her right hand was a doll, its feet were touching the ground. 

The child looks like she was lost. 

Solanne stood to where she was not moving. She was contemplating her choices. What to do? When to wake up? And where to even go? 

Feeling lost she looked at the pamphlet. If what she remembered was right, this pamphlet will serve as a guide. 

However, the moment she opened it, eyes full of expectations, there was nothing. Even if she waited for seconds and minutes, there was nothing. 

For a minute, Solanne stared at the pamphlet not knowing that to do or what to feel. Should she feel frustrated? Lonely? Angry? 

She doesn't know anymore. 

All she can do was walk. Walk until she wakes up in this dream. 

Solanne turned around ready to navigate her way to this place, when she felt a small hand touching her clothes. She looked down. It was the child that was holding a doll earlier. 

Solanne raised her brow. She's not fond of children. No, it's more like she doesn't know how to handle children. 

Still, she tried her best to be an adult here. Solanne smiled. "Is there something little girl? Are you lost? Where are your parents?" 

The child looked at her. Her eyes were sparkling. "I do not have one." 

Solanne tilted her head, confused. "Do not have?" 

"Parents." 

Well, this is awkward, Solanne sighed. "Then why are you here?" 

"They told me to be here." The child simply answered. Eyes and expression on the verge of tears. 

"Who?" 

"The elders." 

"For what?" 

"Dreams. They told me to find my dreams. I need dreams." 

Solanne scoffed. Even though she was trying to mask her expression in front of this child, she can't seem to do that. 

A mocking smile appeared on her face. "Why do you even need them for?" 

The child looked back at her puzzled. Her eyes were asking. "I need to know what I want to be when I grow up. I need to be helpful to the society. That's what they told me." 

In a setting like this, Solanne feels like she needs to act and help. Yet, if these are all just dreams, then, she can be herself. She pats the little girls head.

She said in a gentle tone. "I'm not a person suited for you to be your guide. I'm also a stranger to this place. I can't even help you find the local authorities. I'm a stranger on this place. Being with me won't help you."

"But they told me…" The child expression looks like she's about to cry. Perhaps, it was because she was shock, the doll she was holding earlier was already on the ground. Both of her small hands where holding Solanne afraid that she'll slip away. 

But what can she even do? 

She looks and feels heartless right now. It was making her uncomfortable. Where is Yael, really? She asked, frustrated. 

In the end, she sighed and help the girl look around. The place. The moment she took a step forward, the pamphlet she was holding glowed and suddenly, there were scribbled words. 

"Return by midnight." 

After reading the text, Solanne raised both of her brows. "So much for a pamphlet full of rules," Solanne sarcastically remarked before she held the child's hands. 

The moment their skin touches, it was only for an few seconds, but she saw an endless blue sky extending as if there were infinite possibilities waiting for her. 

Solanne gasped. She almost yanked her hand away from the child yet her innocent gaze stopped her. 

Solanne tried to smile. "What's your name?" 

The child tilted her head, asking in confusion. "I don't have a name. I need to find my dream first." 

"Is your dream much more important than your identity?" 

"That's is what they said. Be useful first." 

Solanne can't help but scoffed once again. She's still afraid of this world. There are endless possibilities and even though this was a dream, there might be dangers. So, she kept her mouth shut. Her eyes on the breath-taking buildings in front of her. 

'This place is full of adventure,' Solanne thought looking at the different architectural designs that was laid in front of her. 

They were still at the entrance yet, Solanne can feel down to her veins that there's an adventure waiting for her. She looked down at the child, her eyes was sparkling with excitement. 

"Sister, they told me that once I find my dreams, I will find my purpose. What do you think about that?" 

Solanne could only nod. Right now, her words don't matter. Just like the child she was new to this place. She felt like a stranger and even the pamphlet she has was no help at all. 

What's her purpose for being here? Alone? 

Lost on her thoughts, she let the child lead the conversation. 'The elders has also told me that once I have my dreams, I will feel fulfilled. I can live my life to the fullest and everything will fall into place." 

"Good for you." 

A simple answer. 

The child stopped for a moment causing Solanne to stop too. She looked back at the child puzzled. "Sister, just curious." 

Solanne stretched her lips. "What is it?" 

"Are you one of those people who are called, 'reality shifters?'" 

Solanne raised her brow as she found the term amusing. "Reality shifters?" She asked. 

"It's what the elders referred to the people who doesn't have dreams or, those people who had given up on their dreams. They are people who looks at reality, a very terrifying word we often use. It's a place where no dreams exist. It's a terrible place. A place full of suffering. Their eyes were lifeless and they look like dead people, the elders said. That's why it's important for us to find our dreams." 

"Do I look like dead to you?" Solanne asked. She was amused. 

The child shook her head. "No."

"Then, in your eyes, am I a reality shifters?" 

"I don't know." 

Solanne chuckled. Her thoughts were all over the place but she can't help but mock those elders. "You should only think for yourself child. It's the start of your life after all." 

"Sister," The child looked at Solanne's eyes in daze. "You look like you have an identity." 

Solanne smiled. "Is that how you see me?" 

"Yes. What is your name?" 

She was about to say her name, yet, the pamphlet she was holding glowed as if it was asking for attention. Solanne looked at the scribbled words: 

"Do not say your name. Don't give the child any names. Your name is your identity. It's your soul. People who have dreams but don't have any identities steal names to any travelers they could find. Because, even if they have dreams, they're still empty inside." 

"Be back at midnight." 

"The train will be there to pick you up." 

"Remember. Midnight." 

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