The Dream Dead or Alive by Ling-Yu Huang

THE DREAM DEAD OR ALIVE?

VICKY KUO 1

WORDS CHECKED: 5206 WORDS IN OXFORD 3000: 94%

THE DREAM TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – VICKY KUO------------------------------4

SYNOPSIS------------------------------------------------------------5 CHAPTER ONE

A THIEF--------------------------------------------6

CHAPTER TWO

THE STRANGE DEATH---------------------16

CHAPTER THREE

TRUTH IS CRUEL? -----------------------23

CHAPTER FOUR

CONFLICT-------------------------------------30

CHAPTER FIVE

MISUNDERSTANDING----------------------38

CHAPTER SIX

INSIDE STORY-----------------------------------47

CHAPTER SEVEN

FRIENDSHIP--------------------------------53

CHAPTER EIGHT

TIME’S UP. DEAD OR ALIVE? --------58

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Before you read this novel “The Dream”, you should know Vicky is a girl of imagination. And she is also a strange girl. This strange girl was born on 28 November, 1988 in Kaohsiung, R.O.C. She was in fourth grade of Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages upon writing the novel. She likes to read books and to write essays in Chinese. This is her first English novel. When I finish the story, I think “What meaningful it is. There is deep meaning inside.” Hope you enjoy the novel.

SYNOPSIS

This story was a about a girl. “I knew one person’s outside could not really show his mind and thinking.” “I didn’t do it! I wasn’t the thief!” “Yes, you did.” She killed herself. Then, she met Death. “Am I dreaming now?” “I will show you the truth.”

What does friendship mean? What about dreams? What about truths? Does anyone really know the truth?

CHAPTER ONE :

A THIEF

It was 3:15 p.m. I was standing at an intersection and not in the mood to listen to the noise of the city. The incessant streams of cars and trucks were reflected in my eyes. Dust was flying everywhere and it seemed like it would never fall to the ground. I recalled having seen a mist with parents. It blurred my view, my mind, everything. There were some bad memories flashing in my head. Many mean words and sentences were still ringing in my ears. I smiled as usual. However, I doubted how I could do that. Perhaps it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter

anymore. “Yes, it doesn’t matter anymore…” I whispered. I walked straight into the road, just like I was going to be awarded a prize on stage. The honking sounds of the cars sounded like a wonderful song. The passersby shocked, but I only thought they were proud of me. I even heard someone cheering me! I was sent flying across the pavement and then fell down. “Hurry up! Call 119! Call police!” I could hear someone shouting, “She has been bumped by the truck!” At the moment, I saw a lot of red flowers…Were they real flowers? Why did I feel sleepy?

There were many questions dancing in my brain, which made me have a headache. Like a movie, everything was produced again and again. There was nothing I could redeem and I felt tired…very tired… Gradually, I closed my eyes. ＊＊＊

“You know what, believing is very important…” I sneered. What does “BELIEVE” mean? This word in my dictionary was crossed out. No matter who tried to convince me of stupid sentences like “Believing is important…” I wouldn’t trust anyone again! There would be a history test next class. I was

studying history very hard and felt confused. Why did they still have free time to chat? Forget it. I didn’t want to know the answer. “Hey, Green! Ms. Jones asked you to go to her office!” one of my classmates shouted. But why? I raised my head with a frown because I didn’t know the reason. Normally, someone would be asked to go to Ms. Jones’ office because he did something wrong. However, I didn’t do anything illegal. Perhaps if I wanted to get the answer, I should go to Ms. Jones’ office. When I stood up, I heard someone saying… “…She stole her classmate’s money in junior high!

Have you heard about that?” “Oh? Teresa’s money was stolen yesterday! Maybe she stole it… ” “Her family is very poor. They can live because of her scholarship.” “No wonder she wanted to steal money!” “…shhhhh…She is coming!” A forced smile appeared on my face. Actually, I could do nothing except smile. They didn’t know the truth… However, what was the truth? Who knew it? ＊＊＊

“Miss Green, sit down, please. I believe you must

have heard of some of the rumors swirling around campus. ” Ms. Jones smiled and I said nothing. Perhaps she thought I acquiesced in her words, so she kept saying, “Do you want to express your thoughts about that?” What should I say? Try to deny that I am not the thief? Actually, she didn’t believe I was innocent, so she asked me to come here. “Ms. Jones,” I said coldly, “It’s no use to say anything if you believe the rumors. Even though I say I am not the thief, you won’t trust me completely, will you? And even though you trust me…but actually, if you really trust me, you wouldn’t call me to come

here, right? So it means you don’t believe me. In addition, you have never trusted me, haven’t you?” Ms. Jones was silent and looked at my deadpan face angrily. The next moment, I fell down to the floor and my face hurt bitingly. The situation seemed familiar, but I forgot when it happened before. We faced each other for minutes. Only the ticktacks of the clock on the wall kept moving… ＊＊＊

I walked slowly to my classroom. My face hurt

less than before. However, I guessed the red impression might be evident. The bell was ringing and I knew it was break time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Green, Mrs. Straight has announced that you are fired and she will change her research assistant.â&#x20AC;? Actually, helping a professor do research is very popular. It was because not only you would get extra points, but also everyone would respect you. Every student wanted to get the chance. According to a school sister, spreading some rumors was very normal. Moreover, someone did everything dirty such as menacing or threatening to force her to give up the chance.

Though I knew it very well, I still felt very shocked. I was not shocked by being fired. I felt shocked because I was not upset. I looked at the blue sky as if in trance. “Ha, Mrs. Straight always pays attention to our behavior,” Rebecca Fool walking toward me and said,” A thief will never be her research assistant!” I shook my head and sighed. When I returned to my seat, a girl came to me and said “Vicky, don’t be so sad,” She was smiling like an angel, “just confess the truth and apologize to Teresa. I believe everyone will forgive you.” I was wrong, totally wrong. She was not an angel.

Did anybody believe me? I looked around the class. Everyone stared at me like I was a prisoner. I smiled sadly and walked out of the classroom. I couldn’t think. My brain was blank. And then, I walked out of the school…… It was 3:15 p.m. I was standing at a crossroad and not in the mood to listen to the noise of the city. Perhaps it didn’t matter anymore. “Yes, it doesn’t matter anymore…” I whispered.

CHAPTER TWO:

THE STRANGE DEATH

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who are you?â&#x20AC;? I asked. This was the first sentence I said, and also the first question I asked after opening my eyes. I was standing in a white room and saw a strange person standing in front of me. He wore a black robe and an ashen mask covered his face. A scythe he holds was shining and sharp.

The question might be very stupid. (Perhaps the stupid one was me.) However, I knew one person’s outside could not really show his mind and thinking. Though he looked like a ”funny” Death in the advertisement of insurance companies, I still couldn’t confirm that he was …Death. Why? It was because I was not sure if he was “real” Death. After all, I hadn’t met Death in my life. No, I didn’t want to think about this question anymore. “It must be a dream!” I thought. I knew when I closed my eyes and opened them, I would go back to my real life. I closed my eyes and tried to wake up……I

opened my eyes…… “Why are you still here? Where am I? Who are you?” He was laughing at me and didn’t answer my questions. I felt angry. “Do you want to ask who I am? Then, who do you think I am?” I looked at Death and shouted angrily, “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know why I am here. I don’t know ANYTHING!” He smiled and filliped his fingers. The place where we were standing changed to a gallery. I was sure that was a hospital because I saw many doctors

and nurses. However, I was not sure of the Death’s purpose. After he smiled at me, a light appeared. It was too bright to open my eyes. And I saw myself lying on the bed. “Is that…me?” I trembled. My body was black and blue all over. Nurses were bandaging my wounds. “Dr. Kind, please save my daughter!” my father said to beg the doctor. “She hurts very badly and has a concussion. Maybe she will become a vegetable and won’t wake

up anymore,” the doctor sighed, “but don’t worry. We will try our best!” “Thank you, doctor…thank you very much…” Father’s voice cracked. Suddenly, I discovered I was an unfilial and irresponsible daughter. But the truth was cruel. I couldn’t recover from what I did. However…… “You can save me, right?” I turned to the Death and plucked at his sleeve. He looked at me deridingly like what I said was a joke. “What? Don’t you want to die? Your dream will come true. Now, you should be very happy, shouldn’t you? Do you think I can save you? No, no, and no,

dear Vicky, I am Death. How can I save you? Ah?” I was silent. According to him, I knew he was true Death. In fact, I knew it very well, didn’t I? However, was it really true? I doubted it because of his ridiculing tone. “Why don’t you take me away right now? Anyway, I am going to die in a few days,” I said coldly, like I was still in Ms. Jones’ office. Death didn’t care about my cold words and said, “I will let you know some truths which you don’t understand and refuse to understand. Then, I think you won’t have regrets.” “Do you think that I will toe your line after

understanding everything?” I laughed at him. He smiled and said nothing. I demolished Death’s impression because of him. The scythe he holds disappeared. I still didn’t know what Death was. The place changed again. This time, where would we go? To Hell?

CHAPTER THREE:

TRUTH IS CRUEL?

The breeze was blowing warmly. The sunshine was spraying into the classroom. There were two or three books on each desk. Everything seemed familiar. I was of course familiar with this place. That was… “That was your class in junior high. I know you must have bad memories here. By the way, now is…… ” He didn’t finish because I glared at him. I hated this place! Why did stupid Death take me here? When I was going to damn him, I saw a girl in a sport shirt running into my classroom. She was…no, she was

stealing someone’s wallet and putting it in my book bag! Her face was brutal like she wanted revenge for herself on me! I was very shocked because of her… “Why? She was my best friend in junior high…” Meanwhile, I saw another girl looking at her, too. I was sure she must have seen everything! Why didn’t she confess the truth to everybody? I was NOT the thief! I walked toward her angrily. Suddenly, I was losing my mind. Everything was

broken around my world. ＊＊＊

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Basically, if you were concerned about someone, you would ask her this question. Nevertheless, it sounded like irony to me. “How dare you ask me that? You saw that, didn’t you? How come? Mandy and Amanda…they were my best friends…One backstabbed me, and the other one didn’t confess the truth! Why did they betray me?” I shouted at Death and cried like a baby. He sighed, “Calm down. OK?” “It’s your fault! Why did you take me there? I

wouldn’t believe in friends anymore! You made me feel disappointed with everything! I have more regrets at this world! ” I wiped my tears and bellowed at him. However, he was not angry with my complaint. Actually, he still smiled like a kind teacher. Until now, everything seemed like a mystery. “Listen to me. What you just saw happened one year ago, in your third year of junior high,” he said and walked behind me, and his voice is cool, “Do you think it is true?” I didn’t know how to answer, so I kept silent. “You can’t only see the surface of a thing. Sometimes, what you see is not the real truth.

Someone garbles the truth. Someone has imagination and makes it become more complicated,” he said logically like he was a philosopher, “We both know truth is usually cruel. However, if you misunderstand the truth, that will be crueler and more terrible.” “What do you mean?” I asked. He smiled, “I think you should understand what I have said, eh?” “If I had known that, I would NOT have asked you!” I shouted. I knew I totally lost control. However, everyone would get annoyed if the speaker used self-righteous tone. Though I could understand what he said, what

could I do after all these things happened? If I knew the truth before, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather choose not to know it. I got much depression, so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear what Death said. And then, the space changed again.

I bent my head and the wood floor seemed very familiar. There was a piano. I walked closer to the piano and touched the keyboard. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget Amanda, Mandy and I used to play the piano together. We played very happily. I thought we would be good friends forever. I wept, but I wiped them quickly because I was afraid that Death would laugh at meâ&#x20AC;Ś Wait a minute, where was Death? I looked around the room to look for him, but he was not here.

CHAPTER FOUR:

CONFLICT

“Hey, where are you? Stop playing!” I said. I heard some voice behind me. I thought it must be the Death, so I turned to him. No, I turned to HER… “Mom, do you see my…Mommy, where are you?” A girl with long hair walked downstairs. Her voice was very nice. Her eyes were very beautiful. And she had a sweet smile. I froze because of her. Fortunately, I was just a spirit, so she couldn’t see me.

I would never forget her pretty face. Amanda, one of my BEST friends, was cute and gentle. However, she didn’t have her own opinions. It was her weakness……Well, it was no use thinking about that right now. Anyway, I should find Death first. The clock said it was 7:00 p.m. After I walked

downstairs, I saw Death sitting on the sofa with Amanda’s mother watching TV. Does Death watch TV? The reporter on TV was reporting the news, and the news was the funniest one I’ve ever heard. “A student in xxx senior high school was accused of stealing money. All of her classmates repelled her. She committed suicide at 3:20 p.m. because of pressure. The school kept a low profile. They didn’t want to answer any questions. The news is reported by……” Humph! Did they really know the truth? Did I commit suicide due to pressure? In fact, I admired

those journalists very much. How did they get the news? Perhaps I committed suicide because I didn’t have any pressure! How were they so sure? How could they know that more clearly than me? Many questions were increasing in my head. I wanted to cross them out, but I couldn’t. “Amanda, is he Vicky’s father?” Amanda’s mother pointed at a picture of the newspaper. I looked at the picture—that was my father! He was sitting on a bench in the hospital. His hair became white like an older man. Then, I saw the topic of the news: AN INNOCENT GIRL or A THIEF’S SUICIDE? very sad. However, I had no tears.

I felt

I stood back and tried to run away, run away from real life. But Death blocked me. I shouted and cried out like a beast that hurt badly. Unfortunately, I had no power to protect myself. I just wanted to keep my pride even though he made me die immediately… “Do I really want to die?” I asked myself. “No, I don’t want to die! I want to go back. I want to live if I can.” “But…yes, I am dying. It can’t be changed.” The conflicting answers confused me. At this moment, Amanda said, “Mom, I want to …no, I must transfer to another school!” I thought this was the first time Amanda had her

own opinion although I didn’t know why she wanted to transfer to another school. It was because she studied very well and she was in a famous senior high school. However, I swore that I wouldn’t care about her. It was not my business anymore! I didn’t notice Death had changed the place again. I was back to the original white room. There was nothing, even Death. He disappeared again. I was abandoned here like an orphan. Loneliness, fear, and helplessness were killing me. I didn’t want to die twice, so I tried to escape from here. But how to escape? I felt like a drowned person in the ocean. Nobody saved me.

Nevertheless, I forgot I had jumped down into the ocean and drown myself. “Hello──Anybody here──?” I asked. “Hello──Anybody here──?” The echo responded.

It was enough! I just wanted to leave and go home. I hoped everything was only a dream. When I woke up as usual, a new day would begin. But was it

possible? I thought my wish would never come true. I sat on the floor and laughed at myself because of my foolish behavior, and then I cried. Actually, I was too dizzy to think about anything. Gradually, I closed my eyes and felt nothing in a white room. I dreamed of my second and third years of junior high schoolâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;Ś

CHAPTER FIVE:

MISUNDERSTANDING

I remembered the day was cloudy. “I am announcing that Vicky has won a place for the camp. Take a break!” Ms. Golden said while the bell was ringing one day during my second year. I saw that Mandy was very sad, so I ran after Ms. Golden. “Ms. Golden, why did I win a place for this top science camp? Mandy’s science report is better than mine. She should win it, not me!” I asked Ms. Golden, our class teacher. In fact, I was in her office and going to fight for Mandy and her place for the camp.

She just smiled and said, “Dear Vicky, I hope you can understand our kindness. Because you do very well on every subject, our school principal decided to let you join the camp.”

“No, Ms. Golden. You don’t get my point. What about Mandy? She should win the place! ” I stood up

and looked at Ms. Golden. “I think what I said is very clear. This top science camp allows only one place for each school and you are the only one in our school. Get it? ” She asked me to sit down, “your average exam score is higher than Mandy’s. That is the reason.” “But according to the rules, you should choose a student by his report grade, not his exam grade. And everyone knows Mandy’s report is the best one in our school.” I didn’t feel happy after I won the place. Reversely, I felt very angry. I didn’t believe they could neglect Mandy’s effort. I was her friend and I

knew how much she care about the chance. Ms. Golden’s smile was disappeared. I could feel that she had no patience for me. “The principal said if you don’t accept it, you will be given a demerit,” She said. I sneered, “After I compare our friendship and a demerit, I realize a demerit is nothing. Therefore, I can accept it absolutely. ” “Are you sure you can accept it? If you are recorded a demerit, you will lose all your scholarships,” as walking to me she said, “Vicky, you are a very smart girl. I believe you understand the consequence of losing your scholarships. Your family

needs your scholarship to live, don’t they?” The schools bastardly tricks struck me down. I was a loser. I walked around campus after leaving her office. I wondered how to explain to Mandy. She looked forward to the camp for a long time. But the place which belonged to her was mine. What should I do? No, I shouldn’t do anything after I walked into the classroom. I saw a mean sentence written on the black broad: Vicky Green is a ROBBER and a BITCH! I froze when I saw those words. Mandy sat at her seat and Amanda shook her head. She tried to warn

me not to come into the classroom. I didn’t know why she did it. However, I realized it very clearly after I went near them. Some of my classmates approached me. One cankered girl said, “Everyone, look at the robber!” “What do you mean?” I knitted my brows. “I mean, Mandy’s report is better than yours, but you win the place for the camp. Why?” she said, “It was because you begged our teacher to give it to you. You robbed Mandy’s place!” “No, I didn’t!” I tried to explain. “Yes, you did!” she shouted and pushed me. I was pushed over and bumped into a desk. My

head hurt. I could feel my blood running down my face and my shirt. “Oh my god! Send her to the health center!” I heard someone screaming. Everything in front of me became darker and darker. Finally, I fainted. ＊＊＊

Before I got up, I heard Mandy and Amanda talking about me. “Mandy, don’t be angry, ok?” Amanda said. “I am not angry.” Mandy’s voice was very cool. However, I could feel her anger. Amanda did, too.

“Forgive Vicky. I believe she didn’t mean to…” Amanda didn’t finish her sentence. “I am not angry with her, so I don’t have to forgive her,” Mandy said coldly, “Of course I know she didn’t mean to do it. I try very hard to believe her, you know? Everyone says she asked the teacher to give her the place. Who should I trust? She couldn’t even explain it to me!” “Mandy……” Amanda wanted to say something to comfort her. However, I guessed she didn’t know how to do it. Mandy continued saying,” I want to choose to believe her. After all, we are good friends. I will try to

believe and forgive her……” I opened my eyes and tears shed down my face. And then, I sat up and looked at them. “Mandy, I am so sorry……” In the health center, we held each other and cried. I knew the misunderstanding between us had disappeared and we were still best friends.

CHAPTER SIX:

INSIDE STORY

“Hey, wake up! I will show you the reason.” Someone woke me up, and I knew it was Death. “Where were you?” I asked him. “It is not important. I was just chatting with someone,” he smiled pulling me up, “Hurry up! I will take you back to one year ago.” “Again? Isn’t it enough? I have known too many TRUTHS. I feel tired.” I flung his hand. He said nothing and filliped his fingers. At that moment, I saw Mandy and another girl. Death touched my shoulder lightly.

“That was your third year of junior high. You can see Mandy…By the way, do you know the girl in front of her?” he said. We were at a gloomy corner of the school. I saw a girl pushed over Mandy. I was so angry and tried to stop her. However, I was only a spirit. Mandy was sitting on the floor and keeping near to the wall. The bad girl approached her like she would eat her. I knew Mandy was very afraid, but she didn’t want to grovel to her. “Bitch, why did you tell the teacher that we broke his car? Is it funny to be an informant? You think you are right, eh?” plucking Mandy’s hair,

“Then, one year ago, Vicky Green robbed your place. Why didn’t you blame her?”

“No, she didn’t. She is my best friend.” Mandy said while trying to stand up “Ha, damn your best friend! Many people can prove that Green went to the office. If I say she actually asked Ms. Golden to exchange your place, would you treat her like a BEST friend? ” she laughed. 49

Mandy wept. “Perhaps she was sniggering when you forgave her. Maybe she never wanted to be your friend.” The girl was the meanest girl I’ve ever seen. “Anyway, if you tell the teacher what we did again, you will have much more pain.” The mean girl left after finishing her talk. Mandy’s face was white and her eyes became somber. She seemed like she hated someone very much. I had never seen Mandy like this. “You want to know the reason. Here it is!” Then, Death and I returned to the white room. ＊＊＊

“Is this the reason she hates me? Because I accepted the place? Because the school’s bastardly tricks struck me down? Because my family needed my scholarships to survive? “I shouted at him, “It means it is all my fault? Therefore, she could steal the wallet and blame it on me? That is too ridiculous!” Death sighed. “You don’t understand my purpose and the reasons very clearly. Her feeling was like what you are feeling right now.” I asked, “What do you mean?” “I mean, what the girl said or your behaviors are not the reason she hated you.” He continued, “Both of

you thought you understood each other very well. She didn’t care about the place. She just hoped you could explain everything to her. However, did you do that?” I was silent. No, I didn’t. I thought she had forgiven me already. Then, I wouldn’t have to explain everything to her. I laughed at myself. Yes, I thought I understood her. But in fact, I am the one who didn’t really know her. So, I forgave her even though she blamed it on me? There was no question. Before I tried to stop the mean girl bullying her, I knew the answer. I never blamed or hated her.

CHAPTER SEVEN:

FRIENDSHIP

Time flew. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure when it was. Maybe it was because I went many places with Death. He made me know many truths about the past. I changed a lot because of him. Actually, he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like Death, but a nice guy. We could become friends. However, he smiled and said that was impossible. He was really an interesting Death. Sometimes I thought if I really knew everything and had no regrets, could I leave the beautiful world and die without obsessions? I had no idea.

“Hey, have you heard that Amanda is going to transfer to your school?” Death asked. I was surprised, “I only knew that she wanted to transfer to another school. Are you sure she is going to enter MY school?” “I am sure. I have other news which will make you more surprised,” he smiled, “Not only Amanda but also Mandy will transfer to your school.” “Are you kidding? You must be kidding!” I laughed, “They did it at the same time?” “I am not kidding you. They did it after seeing the news. You can look with your eyes,” he said and filliped his fingers.

＊＊＊

Mandy and Amanda were standing on the stage and Ms. Jones was introducing them. “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome our new classmates, Mandy Impulse and Amanda Blue! Give them a big hand!” Everyone clapped. Amanda said with her beautiful voice, “Hello, everybody. I am Amanda. And I want to study here because of Vicky. I am her best friend from junior high. She didn’t steal anything…..”

Did I hear anything wrong? “Hi, everyone. My name is Mandy Impulse. You can call me Mandy if you want. Anyway, I am also Vicky’s friend. And I can prove that she is innocent. Never blame or bully her again!” Mandy announced. I was too shocked to say anything. They transferred to my school to prove my innocence? Above all, they said that I was their friend. I smiled happily because of what they had said. I tried to hold them with my transparent arms, but I couldn’t touch them. I wanted to complain to Death. Nevertheless, he just shook his head and took me back to the white room.

After we went back to the room, he said a sentence which confused me. “Time’s up.”

CHAPTER EIGHT TIME’S UP. DEAD OR ALIVE?

“Time’s up? What do you mean?” I asked. Death looked at me seriously, “Vicky Green, I want to ask you a question.” “Just ask,” I said. I felt confused and nervous. What kind of questions would he ask? “If you could choose again, do you want to die after learning all these truths?” he turned back and I couldn’t see his face. “Of course I don’t want to die if I could choose

again. However, can I choose again?” I looked at his backside and smiled sadly, “I knew it is no use to say anything. Time’s up…right?” He was silent. Suddenly, he disappeared. Meanwhile, the white room also disappeared. I stood in completely dark. It was too dark for me to see clearly. I began to weep. It was very terrible to be abandoned. I lost any hopes or wishes of life. What was the truth of life? I didn’t want to care about it anymore…I shouted despairingly. At the moment, a light was shining on me. I followed the light and tried to find out the illuminant.

However, every step was so heavy that I felt much labored. I wanted to give up, but I heard someone cheering me on. As a consequence, I continued moving. Finally, I found the head of the light. But the light was too bright for me to open my eyes. I fainted. ＊＊＊

“It hurts……” I said. My head, my eyes, my face, and my body all hurt. What had happened to me? “Doctor, doctor! She is wakening up! Hurry, she is wakening up!” someone screamed with surprise. I opened my eyes. The white ceiling was shining.

Where am I? Was I still alive? Everything I dreamed is just a…dream?

I sat up and looked out the window. A strange person was sitting on a tree. He wore a black robe and an ashen mask covered his face. A scythe he holds was shining and sharp. I smiled at him and he smiled at me, too. “Time’s up. It is time to wake up. Did you mean that?” I whispered.

I knew it was not a dream. I knew my new life would begin.

THE END

What does friendship mean? What about dreams? What about truths? Does anyone really know the truth?