Chapter 5: The Light of Dreams and Reality

The Moon turned to the new stars sent by Grandmother Nebula, her light glowing softly.

Moon: "Now, little ones, gather around. I am your mother, and the Sun is your father. From now on, you have many older sisters and brothers. Together, we will shine over the night and watch the beautiful dreams of all living creatures on Earth."

Little Star: "What are dreams?"

Moon: "Dreams are built from the shadows of our emotions and memories. They bridge the conscious and unconscious mind, created by the unconscious mind."

[For the nerds who want more detail: " There are two types of dreams. The first is the 'real dream,' where the dreamer has some control over their actions. Like today, Steve's dream was real —he had control over himself, but the unconscious mind still shaped the world around him.

The second is the 'regular dream,' where the dreamer is like a doll, completely controlled by the unconscious mind.

In Steve's dream, Vega manipulates his unconscious mind, creating the illusion that she is his childhood friend. She isn't, but the unconscious mind builds the memory and every detail to make him believe it is real.

Vega is attached to his unconscious mind, subtly guiding his decisions in the dream. However, she can only influence him—she can't control everything.

There's also a rare type of dream 'loose dream' where the dreamer knows they're dreaming and has full control over their dream. But those are exceptionally rare."

Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra and the fifth-brightest star in the night sky, has captivated astronomers and inspired countless legends across cultures.]

[Fillers:

(As the sun rose, the moon travelled to the other side to peek into dreams.)

The wind blew, carrying the clouds across the sky. Wind and Cloud were brothers—Wind, the older one, always teased Cloud, who often ended up crying when they fought.

Wind: "Can't you walk on your own?"

Cloud: "No, I can't. Why do you keep asking that all day, just to get the same answer? You're the older brother, so you're supposed to carry me around!"

Wind: "I can't carry you forever. You're so heavy."

Cloud (pouting): "How can you call me heavy? Look at my soft, fluffy body. You're the one who's all air and no substance!"

Wind: "Okay, I'm done. I'm not telling you the story about him."

Cloud (eyes welling up): "No, no, no! Not that! I was listening to the dream from Sister Moon, and I wanted to know what happened during the day. I couldn't see him from here. But you—you can go anywhere and see everything. The little stars keep asking me about the daytime too. Please, please, please!"

Wind (sighing): "Stop that, and stop crying, or it'll rain. Fine, I'll tell you what's happening…"

The Day Unfolds:

Steve was on his way to work in his friend Deric's car. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow on the road ahead.

Deric: "Have you seen our company's new recruit? She's hot. Last night, I checked her Instagram, and guess what? She's single now. Her name's Lisa, and her ass is, like, perfect. I'm usually a boobs guy, but even I'm impressed. Hey, hello? Are you even listening?"

Steve was lost in thought, that strange warmth still lingering in his chest.

Steve (distractedly): "Yeah, she's good."

Deric (raising an eyebrow): "Good? At what?"

Steve: "At work…?"

Deric (laughing): "No wonder your bananas are untouched by anyone."

Steve (smirking faintly): "I'm waiting for someone who'll choose me for who I am. Someone who'll be the chosen one."

Deric (grinning): "Yeah, good luck with that 'chosen one.'"

Steve (changing the subject): "You know that client with the huge nose? He still hasn't replied about the website."

Deric (shrugging): "Call his manager."

The conversation drifted into work talk, the car humming along as the city passed by.

Time Passes:

Later that evening, Steve returned home. His mother was sitting on the sofa, watching TV. The soft glow of the screen illuminated her tired but content face.

Steve: "You're early today."

Mom: "Haven't I told you? The coffee shop owner's mother passed away, so I've been helping out there."

Steve: "Oh."

Mom (smiling): "I made your favourite today."

A few hours passed, the house quiet except for the faint sound of the TV. Steve sat beside his mother, the warmth in his chest growing stronger.

Steve (softly): "Mom… Mom…"

She was half-asleep on the sofa, her eyes fluttering open.

Mom (groggily): "What…?"

Steve (hesitant): "Can I rest my head on your lap?"

She looked at him, her eyes softening, and smiled.

Mom: "Do you even need to ask? You can rest all you want."

Steve lay his head gently on her lap, her hand instinctively patting his head. Her other hand rested on her chest, rising and falling with her steady breaths.

Mom's Thoughts: "It's been years since he's done this. I miss my son resting in my lap like this." Her eyes welled up, but she blinked the tears away, focusing on the rhythmic tapping of her hand on his head.

Steve fell asleep like a feather drifting to the ground, the warmth in his chest spreading through his entire being. For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace—not just in his dreams, but in the real world too.]