A Shared Dream

Three hours left. It was one of those days when the clock seemed to be moving at hyper speed. An usual day. Every minute slipping by with ease. Aiden found himself daydreaming, staring out the window. Going over, once more, the dream he had last night. Paying no attention to the lecture.

The speaker on the classroom wall suddenly hummed. "Aiden Goodwell to the front office," said a voice from above. Bringing him back to his reality.

Three minutes and a short walk later, Aiden stood in front of the school receptionist's desk in anticipation. "Someone called for me," he said.

"There is a man here to see you," said the receptionist.

"Aiden?" a voice called from behind him.

He turned around to find an ancient looking old man in a peacock blue suit getting to his feet, holding out a hand to shake. A briefcase in the other. "Henry Makerton. Good to finally make your acquaintance."

The receptionist got up and lead them to an empty conference room, where Aiden and Henry took a seat as the door behind them closed.

It was a few moments before anyone spoke.

"Well now, I'm here on behalf of someone who has taken a particular interest in your dreams," said Mr. Makerton.

"My dreams?"

"Yes, the ones you've been having the last few months."

Aiden's mind began replaying the visions that kept occurring, whilst he slept these last few months.

"I don't... how do you know about my dreams?"

Mr. Makerton looked fervently into his eyes and smiled.

"Believe it or not, I work for the Dream Network. The place where all dreams are watched and recorded. It's an incredible business to be in, and you have become a particular interest to the dream watchers of the world. It appears you and another girl, one here at this very school, have been sharing the same recurring dream."

Marla Dansing.

He continued, "It's a rare phenomenon, let me tell you. As rare, that is, as my visit today, in revealing our existence. But my visit here might possibly change your future, and in turn, the future of the world.""

"The future of the world?"

Aiden wondered how his dream about Marla Dansing could possibly have anything to do with the state of the world and its future. The persisting dream where they came together in crowded rooms.

"Yes," Mr. Makerton replied, "The cure to cancer is only to be found if you reveal to a Miss Marla Dansing the contents of the little black book you keep with you in your backpack. If you tell her how you're feeling."

His poetry book. How on earth did this man know about that book, he wondered. And there was a dream network? This was the most strange of days.

"So, I'm supposed to share my poems with her and that will somehow change the world?"

Mr. Makerton reached for his briefcase and placed it upon the table that separated them.

"Just one poem will do, the one about the dream" he replied, "And in exchange, the network is willing to offer you $20,000. Provided you share this poem with her, and don't continue ignoring the important recurrence of these dreams you've both been sharing. We know the financial difficulties your family has been facing has hindered you from interacting with others recently. And we want to help. Help, without impacting anything too drastically."

Aiden's head was swirling with questions. Mr. Makerton waited for him to speak, and upon seeing his bewilderment, decided to continue.

"To be honest, we received word from The Time Travel Bureau of Relations that the ultimate factor in the cultivation of her studies, and the ultimate finding of the cure, depends on the love she receives from you to follow her dreams."

Marla Dansing, the girl of his dreams. Both literally and figuratively.

"Yes, Aiden, you could save millions of lives. It all starts with you being brave enough to share the words in that book."

For a minute, Aiden remained motionless. He was perplexed, as to how this man knew these things about him. How he'd somehow save the world. But this old man's words were bringing him a profound sense of empowerment. All the time he'd spent thinking about this girl and these dreams. Writing poems he thought would remain forever unseen. If what this man said was true, he had nothing to worry about. The love he felt for her, would be the love she felt for him. And at once, it was as if he'd discovered his destiny, and what he wanted most was more than possible.

Aiden reached down at his side and unzipped the backpack. Carefully, he pulled out and laid the book upon the table, turning to the first page containing the poem, and began tearing out the page. It was the one he wrote after the very first night he had had the dream of him and Marla. He read over it once more:

we found each other at the same time

your eyes reflecting the world in mine

the movements all around me faded

all my life for this I waited

the walk to you felt like paper

weightless, floating, passing, favor

moving toward something so freeing

to be beside the rest of my being

you spoke to me and my ears melted

standing there I saw you felt it

gazing, glowing, simple, beauty

you'll never know what you mean to me

Aiden looked up to see Mr. Makerton was beaming at this point, like a proud grandfather. And he in turn, opened the briefcase and pulled out a large wad of cash, handing it over to Aiden.

"The money and knowledge of this meeting, as you might understand, will need to remain confidential. No one else can know what you now know. And I wish you luck."

Aiden now more than ever, felt luck was on his side.