All good memories eventually come to an end. There's no happiness that lasts forever, especially when it's just a "dream" like the ones I often have. Dreams that feel so real, it's hard to tell where reality ends and the dream begins.
But the biggest difference between dreams and reality is that in my dreams, the happiness never lasts. I always wake up, and that brief moment of joy vanishes, leaving nothing behind.
That's what happened this time too. I woke up from a dream that felt too beautiful to be real. The loud ringing of my phone alarm pulled me out of sleep, making what felt like a perfect dream end in an instant.
"Urgh... My head..."
I woke up startled, the sound of the alarm still echoing in my ears. At the same time, my head throbbed like it was being crushed under a heavy weight. I reached for my phone and shut off the alarm, then sat on the edge of my bed, trying to piece together the details of the dream I'd just had.
The dream about that girl on the beach. A dream that felt so real, so full of emotion, it was like I had really been there. I could still feel the warmth of her hand, hear her voice, and see her bright blue eyes.
"Damn... If only that were real..." I muttered under my breath.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. But the headache wouldn't go away. It was as if something hidden deep inside me was trying to rise to the surface—some kind of memory buried far too deep.
I stared out the window, watching as the morning sky slowly brightened.
"Who is she?" I thought, still trying to figure out the girl from my dream.
Why does she feel so familiar? It's like I've met her before, but I can't remember where.
I sighed again and got up from bed, dragging myself to the bathroom. The splash of cold water on my face helped ease the headache a little, but my body still felt tired. Sweat covered my skin, reminding me of the vivid dream I'd just had. A dream that left such a strong emotional impact, it almost felt like it had been real.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes looked tired, but my mind was still filled with questions about the girl—about the dream. Without thinking much, I stepped into the shower, needing to shake off the strange feeling before heading to school.
*****
It was Monday, and as usual, this small island was coming to life again. People went about their daily routines—heading to school, work, and running errands. For most of them, it was just another ordinary day. For them, time moved along as it always did, untouched by dreams or questions about what was real.
I walked to school, a small high school on this remote island with only about six thousand residents. The island was famous for its beautiful landscapes—stunning beaches, towering mountains, and a peaceful life. To some, this island might seem like paradise. But to me, it felt more like a puzzle I couldn't solve.
I wasn't born on this island. My family and I moved here when I was in the fourth grade. At first, it was tough adjusting, but over time, I made friends, found my place, and settled into what looked like a normal life—or at least that's how it seemed from the outside.
As I walked alone toward school, my thoughts kept circling back to the dream. The path I always took was lined with green trees, and from a distance, I could faintly hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. The fresh morning air made my head feel a bit clearer, but the dream still clung to me like a shadow.
Recently, I'd been having these strange dreams almost every night. In each one, I'd find myself in a different place on this island. But what haunted me the most was the presence of that girl—the girl I'd never met in real life but who seemed connected to me in the dream world.
"Wait... When did I start remembering her appearing in my dreams before?"
I stopped walking, suddenly realizing that fragments of the dream were coming back to me. There was something odd about it—something I wasn't supposed to remember but somehow did.
Flashes of memories spun in my head, moments from the dream that felt familiar but distant, like deja vu that didn't make sense. Everything was hazy, disjointed, and mysterious.
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. There was no point in dwelling on something I couldn't understand. Besides, I needed to hurry or I'd be late for school. I started walking again, this time picking up the pace.
Still, the question haunted me. Who was she? Why did she keep appearing in my dreams? And most of all, why did it feel like I knew her... as if we'd met somewhere, outside of the dream?