The Dreamer

‘Have you ever had a dream that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?’
--Morpheus, The Matrix, 1999

Dreams, how real can they be? This journal is his account of what happened. The clarity of some situations is questionable so I will set out a key before hand. Normal text means definite reality, italicised text is a definite dream and underlined text is when he was unsure.

This is his story

April 20th: There was a rain cloud in my room this morning but no rain. The cloud just sat there in stasis not over flowing, just holding the impending storm in.
I woke in a cold sweat today. The day went by without a trace. We didn’t speak.

April 21st: My carpet is on fire. It destroys everything refusing to engulf me. I am alone in the flames, but I remain, untouched.
Woke again in a sweat. The post came today, bills. Went to the shop, 1 Kit Kat, 1 bottle of Volvic and a Ginsters sandwich; meal deal 2.

April 23rd: Where did yesterday go? There are marks on my arm. I stayed in today.

April 24th: The streets are empty except for the silhouette of a woman. My feet won’t move, my trap is invisible but definite. The woman remains a silhouette.
I received my final notice today, one more week for rent. Where will I go?

April 25th: Too many keys for too many doors. My hand begins to struggle with the weight. Soon I will have to move on. Which is my door? Which is my key?
My lip was bleeding when I woke. I went to the bank today to check if I had enough for rent. £13.73… No.

April 26th: My friend urges me to talk to him. I would but I can’t see his face.
I met Carol today, the street emptied for us. Our eyes met. My friend implores me to tell him the truth. His face is still hidden from my view. “I don’t know a Carol.”
I went to see about a loan today. I slept on the bus and missed my stop. I’m home again.

April 27th: Carol speaks softly to me but I do not hear the words. Our eyes meet again. The sky is crimson red. The clouds pass by us.
It rained today. I met Carol whilst shopping. We really hit it off. We’re going to the park tomorrow if the weather is ok.

April 28th: The sun shines. The children play as we walk hand in hand. The water rises around me. All left on show is my head frantically fighting the current. The skies break and we hide under the trees.
Carol came round after she had eaten. We chatted till 1am.

April 29th: There is blood on my hands. The words they say are aimed at me. The cold wall offers no solitude. I have lost my sight but my hearing is heightened. I am alone.
Carol came around today. We kissed. She didn’t stay as long as yesterday. We argued. I went to bed.

April 30th: The apartment is dark. I stand over her, I can smell her hair. Our eyes meet. I see fear in her beautiful eyes. The tears stream down my face. Silence. The streets are empty not even a woman’s silhouette marks the landscape.
There are marks on my arm. I stayed in today. No answer. I slept.

Sam Corrigan