I used to be afraid to open my eyes.
But this one time, I did.
And what I saw was beautiful. The world was drenched in color: lavender skies brushed with golden-orange light, clouds the color of pink sugar. Birds I'd never seen before danced above me, and flowers sang softly beneath my feet. The grass shimmered purple under the sun's warm blush. I thought, "I must be dreaming." But I didn't care. I felt safe.
As I walked, I came across a piece of fruit, big and vibrant in its hue, almost otherworldly. I bit into it, and it tasted like joy. Then everything went still.
And I died.
But then I opened my eyes again.
This time, the world had changed. The colors were duller. The birds were fewer. And the flowers weren’t singing anymore. I kept walking, feeling something unfamiliar underneath the beauty.
A chill.
I came across a creature, sharp and snarling, with eyes like fire. I ran. The trees whispered warnings, and the sky turned grey. I ran until I reached a cliff with no way forward. So I fell.
And I died again.
I opened my eyes.
Now all of the world had lost its brilliance. The grass had faded to ash-green. The sky was an overcast sigh. But in the distance, I heard music, a soft melody that pulled me forward like a lifeline. I followed it.
The closer I got, the more it twisted. The music bent into dissonance. I found its source: an old wooden box playing a lullaby out of tune. The air turned cold. The box burst into splinters, and I collapsed with it.
And I died again.
The next time I opened my eyes, the world before me was quiet.
Too quiet.
I was alone in a desert of grey sand, black clouds looming overhead, not a living soul in sight.
And this time, I didn't run. I didn't scream. I just... lay down.
And I let go.
And then, I opened my eyes.
Not to another world.
But to soft hands touching mine. To the quiet rhythm of a machine echoing the way I breathed.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
I saw real faces. Familiar ones. Family. Friends.
And I was awake.
Truly, finally, awake.
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