Michelle's Perspective
The moment I opened my eyes, I immediately tried to take in my surroundings. But I felt lost. Everything was dark. There was no sound except the faint rustling of something I couldn't quite place. The silence was almost suffocating, and the darkness made me feel even smaller, like I was swallowed by nothingness.
"Where am I?" I whispered to myself, my voice barely breaking the quiet. "Mom? Dad? Carl? Is anyone there?" I called out, a little louder, hoping for an answer, but all I got was silence.
Frustrated, I groaned and added, "Stop fooling around! Please turn on the light, will you? I'm trying to sleep!" I hoped it was just a prank, maybe someone was messing with me. But when I looked around again, nothing had changed. The darkness still surrounded me, and the silence remained unbroken. A knot of fear tightened in my chest.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I told myself to think about things I liked, things that made me happy... my favorite shoes, clothes I dreamed of wearing, a house with tall trees around it, maybe even a garden full of flowers. As I focused on those images, a soft sound floated to my ears... a bird's chirp? It was faint, but unmistakable.
Slowly, I opened my eyes again, and everything around me seemed to glow softly. I blinked a few times, unsure if I was still asleep or awake. The place I found myself in was breathtaking. Trees towered overhead, their leaves gently swaying in a breeze I couldn't feel but could somehow sense. Birds sang melodies I had only heard in peaceful mornings at the park. And in the middle of this paradise stood a grand house. Huge, beautiful, like something out of a dream. It wasn't just any house; it was the kind I had wished for my whole life but knew I'd never have. My heart ached at the thought.
Without thinking, I stepped toward the house, my feet barely making a sound on the soft grass. The door was massive and ornate, inviting me in like a secret waiting to be discovered. I reached out and pushed it open. Inside, I was stunned. The first thing that caught my eye was a huge collection of shoes. Not just any shoes! But Adidas, Skechers, Asics, Puma, Gucci. Shoes I had always admired from ads or in stores but never owned. My hands trembled as I picked up a pair and slipped them on. They fit perfectly like they were made for me.
Suddenly, I heard a loud banging coming from the kitchen. My heart jumped. I gently set the shoes down and kissed them softly. "I'll come back for you" I whispered, a strange smile spreading on my lips. Then I cautiously moved toward the noise.
I peeked into the kitchen but didn't see anyone. No broom, no stick, nothing that could explain the sound. My mind raced what if someone was there? Someone who didn't want me here? Panic fluttered in my chest, but then I remembered the arnis stick I kept in my room my little weapon. Without thinking, it floated into my hands. I didn't question it. I just held it tight, ready.
I called out, "Who's there? Stop making noise!" My voice was louder than I intended, shaky but firm. "If you're messing with me, be careful. I have this," I said, raising the stick.
As I moved closer, I swung at the source of the noise but it wasn't a person. Just a flower vase that toppled over. I exhaled, feeling silly and a little embarrassed.
I turned to leave when suddenly, everything around me started to fade. "Ahhh! Why?" I cried out as my body felt like it was dissolving into thin air.
"Carl! Carl! Why?" I heard myself whisper as my brother's hands shook me awake.
I opened my eyes to see Carl's concerned face above me. "Why did you wake me? I was having a good dream," I muttered, annoyed.
Carl blinked, clearly surprised by what I said. "You've been asleep for four hours," he said softly. "It felt like only a few minutes to you?"
I sighed and sat up, ignoring his teasing. "I didn't even get to take the shoes with me," I grumbled.
He laughed. "You're really restless tonight, aren't you?"
I glared playfully. "Yeah, and you're lucky I do not want to hit you right now."
Carl smiled and sat beside me. "Hey, have you ever heard of lucid dreaming?"
I shook my head.
"It's when you're aware you're dreaming while still asleep. Sometimes you can control what happens in your dream the story, the characters, everything."
That caught my attention. I felt a spark of hope. Maybe that dream wasn't just a dream. Maybe it was something more.
Later, after dinner, I went to my room and started researching. I read, "A lucid dream is a dream during which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming."
I kept reading. "During a lucid dream, the dreamer may control the dream's environment, characters, and story."
It sounded incredible. Could I really learn to do that?
"Sis?" Carl's voice pulled me back as he closed the laptop.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
He looked sad something I rarely saw. "It's just…" he started, but tears broke free.
Carl was always the happy one, the one who smiled no matter what. But now, I saw how much he was hurting.
I pulled him into a hug. "It's okay. Cry if you want. I'm here."
He sniffled and told me, "My classmates bully me. They laugh when I mess up in class and push me around."
My heart clenched. I knew the feeling. I was bullied too. I felt small, shy, and like I wanted to disappear.
"I've been thinking about..."
Our conversation stopped as Mom's loud voice echoed through the house. Carl and I exchanged worried looks and rushed to the kitchen.
Mom and Dad were arguing again. Dad's affair was tearing us apart.
We tried to separate them, but Mom collapsed into tears. I hated seeing her like this.
Dad's voice was cold as he said, "I think it's time we ended this, I want a divorce"
Then he left us.
I held Mom as she cried, feeling anger rise inside me. How could Dad do this? How could he hurt the woman who loved him? A real man never hurts a woman.
After calming Mom down, I went back to my room. I lay on my bed, tears streaming down my face.
"Dad, why? Why did you do this to us?"
That question echoed in my mind as sleep finally took me.