1
Prose
A Dream of Hope and Despair
Dhruv Dhakad
In a world devastated by war and greed, humanity’s last refuge became a dream—a perfect illusion offered by the rich and powerful. Most people accepted it, preferring the false paradise over the grim reality. But I couldn’t. My name is Arjun, and while the world fell into this lie, I sought something real.
After the Third World War, my family and I were constantly on the move, trying to escape the violence. My sister died a year ago from starvation, and I realized I had been fighting for her all along. When I heard of a resistance against the dream, I sought them out. Eventually, I found Benedikt Frank, a leader of the dwindling resistance. He told me of a crucial meeting in London that could determine humanity’s fate. I set out, knowing the journey would be perilous.
While travelling, I was suddenly pulled into the dream. I found myself in my childhood home, my mother offering me a sandwich. It was tempting to believe it was real, but I knew better. When my mother pulled a gun on me, I defended myself, the illusion warping as I killed her. This was no paradise.
I wandered through the dream’s surreal landscape until I encountered **the fortress**—an oppressive structure that seemed to bend reality around it. Inside, I faced terrifying manifestations of my deepest fears. They taunted me with doubts, trying to break my spirit. But I pressed on.
At the heart of the fortress, I found a version of myself—older, defeated, urging me to give up. He claimed the real world was beyond saving, that staying in the dream would offer peace. For a moment, I hesitated. But I couldn’t betray my sister’s memory by choosing a lie.
Ignoring his pleas, I approached the source of the dream—a glowing orb. With one swift motion, I shattered it, and everything went dark.
When I woke, I was back in the real world. It was still broken, still harsh—but it was real. And that was enough for me to keep fighting.