The first dreamer

By Kioni Chong

Photo by Swapnil Sharma from Pexels

In an early and peaceful time, everyone lived, died, and faded away. No memories were made, and no spirits were left behind. 

In this small town in Morphia, buildings were closely packed, and the air always smelled like freshly baked bread. Looking behind all the cottages, there was a massive mirror, reflecting the huge ocean underneath. 

This was a perfect home for Flavian and his beautiful, hardworking wife. They lived on the very edge of this small town, right next to a vast blanket of tall, long, lime-green grass. 

Flavian was a tall blonde male with dark brown eyes. He was very hardworking and loyal to his wife. Matilda, his wife, had light brown hair, and shining emerald green eyes. Freckles were sprinkled around her face, and her teeth were as white as pearls. They both lived a happy and relaxing life in their cozy little cottage. Morphia was a tiny, tiny village. But although it may have been small, it was very well known. Everyone knew about it, even the Greek Gods. 

“You shall sleep well tonight, as tomorrow, you shall go berry-picking for our dear cousins,” Flavian said, and Matilda slightly nodded. 

They fell into a deep sleep and the next day when Matilda went to wake Flavian up, he didn’t respond.

Matilda heard an ear-shattering scream and realised it came from her mouth. She ran outside their cottage to find someone to help. After informing their neighbors and the village chief, she ran all the way back and stayed by her dear Flavian’s side.

Inside Flavian’s mind, everything was foggy. He could hear a voice inside his head, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. His body felt slimy, and he felt as if he had no bones. He felt hot, yet cold at the same time, and all he wanted to do was fall into deep, deep sleep again. “What is happening to me?” he thought. “What is this? Is this some other universe?”

Flavian tried to fight it, but he couldn’t do much. He felt as if thousands of big, jagged rocks had hit his head, and he couldn’t feel or see anything. Inside his head, he tried to imagine himself waking up, but nothing happened. Nothing. Not even in the slightest bit.

Matilda, still waiting by Flavian’s side, was sitting anxiously. She didn’t know what was going to happen and how she could help. 

“If dear Flavian doesn’t wake up soon, there will be no proof I am happily married,” she told the butterfly sitting gently on their garden flowers. “Then Ares will take me,” she cried. 

The butterfly, who couldn’t stand the tears dripping onto its wings, flew away and landed on another soft, yellow, dandelion.

Ares, the Greek god of war, was coming to every village in a few days, in search of a future wife. He was heartbroken, that Aphrodite had rejected him, and so he was as reckless as ever. If Flavian didn’t wake up soon, Matilda would have no choice but to follow Ares. She was exasperated at the thought of that.

Flavian didn’t know what to do, but he could feel that time was ticking. Three days more until Ares came into their village, so there were three days for him to try and wake up. 

On a bright and sunny morning, Matilda’s mood could not be more opposite to the weather. She felt annoyed, hurt, and most of all, worried, and stressed out. The birds singing outside were no help as well; she felt irritated that no one seemed to care. Only two days until Ares came, and Flavian hadn’t done anything to give Matilda any hope. All she could do was pray, and hope for the best.

She started writing a letter to her dear Flavian. Inside the letter, she told him not to worry, and that she would be fine. She left water droplets on the letter, and when she was done, she folded it and left it on the dining room table. She shivered as she thought about leaving with Ares. Her lips trembled, and not long after, she was crying on their hard chestnut-coloured wooden floor.

Only one more day until Ares came to their village and Flavian was feeling lost and sick. He had this nagging feeling inside his heart. 

“Wake up,” a voice kept saying. “Wake up ... Flavian, wake up” Those words spiraled inside his head and made him feel so dizzy and lightheaded. “Wake up, Flavian, your wife needs you … wake up!” 

His heart started pounding and the blood rushed to his head. He felt so dizzy and sick. His body was burning and beads of sweat came down his forehead. 

All at once, he opened his eyes.

Everything was shining at him. He looked around, and realised he was in his bedroom. He looked around, astonished, so happy that he had finally woken up. 

He yelled for her name, “Matilda!” But no one responded. “Matilda..?” 

He tried again, but silence washed over his home once more. He walked outside and saw a note on their dining room table. Confused, he opened it and his legs gave away from under him. What day was it today? Surely Ares hadn't come yet. He went back to his bedroom, trying to form an image of what was happening. 

His bedroom looked darker than ever. Its dark orange curtains now looked blood red. And his white bed sheets looked grey. Stormy grey. 

Someone was unlocking the door outside, Why would Ares have come back? He walked out and to his amazement, there she was, Matilda. Standing there under the sunlight and staring at him with her shiny green eyes. 

“Flavian...is that you?” she said, unbelieving. He ran to her and gave her a hug. They were so astonished. Flavian had woken up, and Matilda was delighted. They went to the chief’s office to tell Ares not to come to their home.

And so they arrived at the chief’s office. They cleared everything up, and Flavian and Matilda had a very peaceful, and happy life after. 

They named what had happened to Flavian a ‘Dream’, but he never stayed asleep for days again. They had three kids, and they all had the power to have dreams. 

They dreamed of happy things, and in all the generations afterwards, every once in a while, every one would have a dream.