CHAPTER NUMBER 1

Door opens, a fairly large room on the 30th floor of a skyscraper, the wall painted with shades of gray, white and olive-green color to give off a calm vibe, in the middle of the room a couch for laying down, looking like the king of comfort itself and beside it a seat which was made so a person could sit at it for hours and not get tired or back pain, she asked me to go and lay down on the couch.

I complied with everything she said, she then sat on the seat beside my couch so she could hear and listen to the things that I was about to say. She was not surprised one bit seeing the expression on my face or the state I was in, it was like she had seen much worse.

I was exhausted, my complexion was pale, my body was weak, the dark circle under my eyes looked like it was painted, I haven't slept for who know how long, if a person saw me, they would think that I am diagnosed with some deadly diseases or if I am at the brink of death.

she then started to ask me questions, the way she asked the questions would make one think that she has a solution for everything.

she told me to close my eyes, let my body lose and to lie down in any position I feel comfortable in, again following her orders, I laid down on the couch with my right hand under my head, facing towards her, grasping a pillow with my left and having it close to my chest, with a blanket over me, making me way over comfortable.

I would close my eyes but I was scared to do it thinking that it may happen again, I tried to close my eyes but as soon as it got close to getting completely shut, I would immediately open it in fear.

She noticed that fear and didn’t force me to close it, then she started asking her questions.

"So please tell me your name and what do you do" she asked me with calmness in her voice as if she was trying to comfort a frightened child.

I was barely able to speak, mustered up the little to none strength left in my body and answered her question, sounding like a dead person speaking from the grave.

"My Name is Ainmosni, I am a College Student and I EXPERIENCE THINGS..."

One Week ago.

Tring Tring, alarm clock ringing.

Inside my small apartment, which I had managed to rent with saving up money from my part time jobs, it was not much but it had all the things that I need to live and it's better than living in a dorm with restrictions.

I woke up, the time was--6:40 am, I have always been an early bird. It made me feel good about myself, but little did I know that waking up today meant, yesterday was the last sleep I ever got!

I woke up, made my bed, went for a light jog, did some exercise at the park, came back freshened up, made a light breakfast, after eating the breakfast, I picked up my bag and went out to go to college, like usual.

***

walking towards the bus stop,

I am not that handsome nor that ugly, I am just above average in looks, I am not that tall either but I do have nice hair which are black in color but also have a golden shade.

Living alone has its perks but having no one to see you off and receive you gets lonely sometimes, I would have lived with my parents but they got into a fight and separated. I was 13 at that time, ever since then I always find myself packing and unpacking.

I went to both Mom and dad respectively to see if or at least one of them would let me live with them but I was naïve, they had slammed their doors shut on me.

I was 17 when I stumbled upon a small noodle shop owner who took me in---Mr. Lock. I worked with him during the day and slept in the restaurant at Night.

After giving my college exam test I was hoping to give him the good news but he gave me one before that and the news was striking.

Mr. Lock passed away, it hit harder than ever, I didn’t even feel something like this when my parents discarded me, the one person who I could call something, gone.

I got accepted into collage lived in the dorms for a few months, took a lot of part time jobs because I wanted to get out of that place they call a living space, the

amount of restriction is just absurd, I bought a small apartment which I call my home now and in which I am currently living.

***

Arriving at college, walking through the main gate with his bag on his back, listening to music through his mp3, which was a gift from Mr. Lock, greeting his classmate while walking to class,

I don’t dwell upon my past or the things that I went through, there are probably people who went through much worse than me, they might even have traumas who knows? I am happy in the position I am in now.

Reaches the classroom, A nice air-conditioned room, walks toward the back and sits beside the window.

I always like sitting here, it makes me feel like I am the main character of a story or something.

Teacher walks into the classroom, starts to give her lecture on psychology as usual, late students coming in and giving excuses.

“Mam, I slept late last night, so sorry for being late.”

After a while another student comes,

“Mam, may I come in.”

“And why might you be late.”

“Umm, sorry.”

Class chuckles on his response,

“Can’t even think of an excuse go and sit “

The teacher was the friendly type so she didn’t stress on being late that much,

After finishing her lecture, she gave a little advice at the end.

“I know that You guys are now legally adult some of you live in the dorms, some of you live alone, some with parents, it’s understandable that you guys’ now can freely follow your will, do as your heart tell you to but there are some restrictions which needs to be kept, like sleeping EARLY.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Emphasis on that while looking at the guy who was late and gave that excuse, the class laughs.

“Not Partying all night long and forgetting that you have class, looks at the other kid with a look saying that she knew even if he didn’t tell her anything.”

The class joins and gives off a wow, being surprised that she knew.

“So, I advise you to sleep early, don’t party that much, hang out in moderation, keep your studies going and have a clear goal of what to do after this, Understand.”

“Yess”, the whole class all at once.

Me thinking that, it’s good that I comply with all of that and don’t go against the thing she said.

A distinct voice calling my name gradually came closer as if the voice was walking toward me.

“Heyy, Ainmosni, hey.”

I ignored it fully knowing who was calling me and why.

One of my only friends that I ever made, Jack, he calls himself my best friend but I don’t know about that.

Jack called me restlessly.

“What is it?” I said in an annoyed voice.

Him being all energized and enthusiastic “hey, let’s hang out today, I have a group of friends, we will play games at the arcade, have a few drinks and come before 10:00 pm, I promise.”

“NO, it’s always like this, you say we will come back before a certain time but it always gets late, then my whole routine gets ruined and it takes days to get back on it” I said to make him remember the previous incidents.

“Ahh, come on, it won’t be like that this time, they are also like you following some ritual or something.”

“Not a ritual, a routine.”

“Yeah, yeah same thing, come on you don’t have any part time jobs today either.”

“How did you know?”

“Of course, I know, I am your best friend, please!”

“Sigh, alright I’ll go.”

“Yah!” puts up his hand with excitement.

I Stood up from my seat, we started to walk to go and meet jacks’ new group of friends.

“But how do you make so many friends, there is always another group of friends with you.”

Jack smirks, puts up his hand and waves it through his slightly brown hair, saying proudly while looking at me like he’s some Chad or something.

“It’s my Charm.”

The disappointment on my face “I want to kill myself.”

“What, wasn’t that cool!?”

“Just kill me!”

***

We joked around, met up with the others and visited the arcade. We played some games at the arcade, annoyed each other and went to a small road side pub to have a few drinks.

While we were eating, having a normal conversation, a topic rose from one of the guys,

“Hey have it ever happened to you, when you go to sleep but absurd thoughts come to you!”

Everyone's expression changes and starts to relate with it as if it happens to all of them.

“Yeah, yeah, it happens all the time.”

“Me too.”

“Me three.”

Jack,

“Me four.”

Everyone looking at me as if I would also relate but,

“What are you guys talking about, it has never happened to me.”

Everyone's expression changed into shock looking at me like I am the weird one.

“Why are you guys looking at me like that, as if I am the weird one and it happens to everyone in the whole world.”

Everyone nodding their heads,

Jack puts his hand on my shoulder.

“My dear friend, you are the weird one here, EVERYONE now thinks and dive into their thoughts before going to sleep.”

I was confused thinking I have never had these thoughts but then I got intrigued by it and Curiosity took over me, I asked,

“Then what are these thoughts? How does it work? What do you guys think about?”

The guys then started to speak about what they think before going to sleep one by one,

One of the guys, telling how he closes his eyes and thinks about driving his dream sports car at full speed, one of them becoming the richest man in the world, another saving the world from extinction.

I was amazed to hear these people have such daring imaginations but then Jack started to speak.

Jack,

“haha, you guys are such fools, the best thing to think about before going to sleep is obviously...”

I was intrigued after hearing everyone’s thoughts to see what Jack would say,

“To think about having the prettiest girl as your wife, to whom you can do whatever you want, have your way with her.”

‘Ahh, what did I expect?’ I thought with disappointment.

Everyone hates Jack for ruining the mood with unnecessary dirty talk.

Everyone was laughing, joking around. While another question came to my mind.

“But the things you guys think about are never going to happen, the money thing might, but becoming the hero of the World, having the prettiest girl, they are literal thoughts.”

Jack,

“That's the fun in it, you think knowing it will never happen! we literally daydream at night.”

“Then what’s the point in it?”

Jack sighs, shaking his head.

“Just try it today and you’ll know what fun it is.”

***

After a while everyone bids their goodbyes.

I started to walk back while thinking about the discussion we had.

“They really told me about it with passion. Should I try it but it will definitely take up my time... ah doing it once won’t harm me.”

And there I was laying down on my bed, trying to do this weird activity.

“Alright, I will close my eyes and let my imagination takeover.”

This exact moment right here, marks the beginning of my despair.

I started or tried doing what others had suggested. I closed my eyes and let my mind go free but no thoughts came to my mind. Then I remembered one of the guys talking about driving his dream car, I took inspiration from it and started to imagine myself in one.

I imagined myself sitting in a supra, with a customized stick and steering wheel, the seats made out of leather, the suspension lowered, a custom spoiler and driving it at full speed, I got so immersed in it that it started to feel real, super real.

I don’t know why but I suddenly opened my eyes on instinct just to see,

“Hmm what is this?” I was sitting inside the car actually going the maximum speed, I thought that this was also my imagination but I could feel it.

The movement of the car, the sound of breaking wind, sudden bumps, the leather coated seats, customized steering wheel, driving like there is no tomorrow.

Experiencing what I would never in my life.

“Oh my God, this is insane, insane… insanely fun, oho, only if I could do this is my life also but this feels exceptionally real, as if I am not in my thoughts but in REAL LIFE, it seems my imagination is really good or I am deeply immersed in my thoughts.”

I looked at my rear view and saw another car approaching beside me. It drove up to me. I glanced at it, it was also a sports car, the person stares me dead in the eyes and nods his head upward, the only thing when nodding your head upward in this situation means one thing.

He wants to race. I was so excited, feeling the most adrenaline I ever had, I showed him the middle finger saying ‘you aren’t shit’, he laughed back saying we’ll see.

Both of us not caring about the cars in front or back of us, at once put our foot all the way down on our accelerator, and start to speed through the Highway, he was in front of me for a while, seeing as his car was slightly faster but I was a better driver and managed to take over him, we were both now going at the same speed, but suddenly he started to fall behind.

I thought that he had given up, I was so immersed in going faster than him, I looked behind to see that he was far behind, not looking at the road, I turned back around...

BOOOM.

I crashed into the back of a truck while going full speed, not even having time to put my foot on the brake. The airbag was opening up in slow motion, I don’t know why, I was in the air and was about to scream but then suddenly.

Tring Tring, alarm clock ringing,

“HAH, HUH, HAH, HUH, HAH, HUH.”

***

I was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, looking around, disturbed. I tried to take my breath, to control my breathing again, drank the glass of water which was beside me, finally regained my breath, I looked at the alarm clock to see that it was already morning.

“What was that about! How is it morning already? was what I saw a dream? I only remember trying to get immersed in my thoughts, when did I fall asleep. Is this how it works? are they meant to be so… Vivid.”

I had all these questions but set them aside for now.

I got out of bed and started to walk toward the washroom but after taking a few steps I immediately fall down “Ah what just happened” I tried to stand back up but after taking a few steps I again lost my balance, ‘looks like I fell asleep while I was in an uncomfortable position, my leg must be cramped, Then no jogging for today.’’, I said that and brushed the matter aside.

What If I hadn’t neglected that pain thinking of it as I cramp, what would have happened if I paid attention to the excruciating pain that I deemed as a cramp, would my future decision and action would have been different, there are only ifs which come to my mind, nothing else.

***