"Where the fuck am I?"

That was the first thought to go through Liam's head when he opened his eyes. What he saw was not what he was expecting, and, more than that, it was unsettling. A sweet breeze blew through the open air; blooming flowers, a freshwater pond, the odor of tree sap and an aged wood. He found himself in a courtyard, closed in on four sides by ancient oriental walls that rose just high enough to obstruct the view outside. The sky above was a dark blue, contrasted with pure and soft white of intermittent cloud cover that provided relief from the dazzling sun. And most surprising of all, he was seated, in the lotus position, atop a short spire of rock in the middle of a pond!

Liam noticed all these things, and all at once, as clear to him as though each were at the center of his attention. Yet at the same time, none of this captured his attention at all! A green courtyard? Private pond? Fresh open air? Blue skies? Who's dream was this? This was a far cry from the life of a modern man. This was an image of a time that only existed in works of fiction.

Peace and tranquility? What was that? Liam had to wear hearing protection just to sleep through the mechanical screams of the MetroJet line outside his apartment. He dared not even dream of a private piece of paradise such as this, for such hopes were destined for disappointment and depression. Instead, this blissful environment only struck terror in his heart. Could he stay satisfied living as he had if he suddenly got a taste of the life of luxury? Even if that taste was only in his dreams?

That question was disturbing, and he wasn't sure of his answer. Still, he kept his calm despite it, maintaining his peace of mind by closing his eyes and pretending to have seen nothing and known nothing. Metaphorically burying his head in the sand and hoping that not acknowledging the problem would make it go away.

It did not.

His efforts to dispel the illusion put him in a meditative trance that moved his mind to a distant land of mind where the material was but a fleeting shadow of the waves of energy born of thought and spirit.

Indeed, he had buried his head so deep that it came as a genuine shock when he opened his eyes once more and still found himself in that oriental courtyard.

His brow twitched as he scanned over the enclosure, searching for an explanation. Though all he found was the company of the fish swimming in the water!

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"Hey little guy, want to explain what's happening to me?" Liam asked to the fish mouthing near the surface before him.

The fish, of course, did not answer, instead only dumbly gulping water whilst aimlessly swimming about. It entranced him, giving the sense of being on the cusp of some personal revelation.

But the revelation never came, instead he was pulled from his thoughts by temptation once more. That clear blue sky, the gentle noise of a stream, the scent of grass and wood and all other things of nature, and, the distant calls and songs of birds. It was all so satisfying. As though the world itself was calling his name, begging him to explore this dreamland. It roused the fear and anxiety lurking in the back of his mind.

Did the fish grow bored with its life of confinement? Liam wondered. "Perhaps boredom is a curse unique to the human soul."

He sighed, finally deciding to stand. It was a movement his body effortlessly executed, yet it shocked his mind. Frankly, that he could stand at all was a miracle to him. For those born and raised in Zero-G, the force of gravity on most colonized planets was enough to kill them, and even if it didn't, their bodies were far too weak to live in it.

It left him oddly conflicted. Sure, he felt great now, and some unshakeable spirit of adventure itched his mind, but if he explored it, wouldn't that make it all the more painful when he finally woke up from this dream?

"What do you think is beyond these courtyard walls friend?"

*Blurp*. The fish gulped.

"Hmm? Curiosity killed the cat you say?"

*Blurp. Blurp.*

"Hmm... perhaps you are right. Better not stray from the safety of our ponds."

And so, for the next few hours, Liam sought every way he could to occupy himself without leaving his rock spire, finding entertainment in a body both foreign and familiar. His skin tone was different, freckles and scars gone, and he was shredded. Yet he was nearly perfectly in tune with his body. Even under the unfamiliar pull of real gravity, he never lost his balance, on the contrary he managed a handstand for the first time in his life.

Where his mind lacked the experience and creativity to move under gravity, his body filled in the gaps. It called out to him and guided him along on a dance that evolved into gradually more complex motions. Before he knew it, he was executing the martial arts dances of distant childhood dreams. And at the end of it all, he hadn't shed a drop of sweat.

All this, and it was still only enough to keep his attention for a handful of hours.

"Boredom really is a terrible curse."

Liam stepped into the shallow water of the pond and waded out to the shore. He naturally moved for the door but thought better of it. How far could he push the boundaries of reality in this dream world? If he pushed the boundaries far enough, would that wake him up?

"Hmph. I guess now is the time to test the extent of my power."

Liam moved into position to strike the courtyard wall, but instinct had him act otherwise. Even in a dream the idea of shattering his fist punching a wall was more than enough a deterrent. Instead, he took a wide stance and pressed his palm against the wall.

"Well, here goes nothing I guess."