I have a special power.
My whole family has it.
We’re called dreamwalkers—
We can walk into people’s dreams.
My parents always told me that I should only dreamwalk for a good purpose.
Is what I’m doing now for a good purpose?
To me, it is.
You see, I’m in my boyfriend’s dream right now…
Because I think he’s cheating.
I take a few steps forward in Ansel’s dream.
There he is.
I see him.
My “perfect” boyfriend.
He’s just sitting there playing video games.
Nothing unusual or suspicious. Yet.
Ansel
Ansel
Lina? Is that you?
He hasn’t even turned to look at me.
How does he know I’m here?
Ansel
Ansel
Please, come sit with me, Lina.
I’m surprised by his reaction…
But I decide to go with the flow.
I sit down next to him.
Lina
Lina
I’m sorry to bother you, Ansel.
Ansel
Ansel
Sweetie, you’re never a bother.
He doesn’t look up from his game as he speaks.
Lina
Lina
Thanks, you’re the best.
Lina
Lina
So, any crazy plans for tonight?
Lina
Lina
Or is this it?
Ansel
Ansel
Just this. I need to beat this level!
I stare at the screen.
It’s just some boring fighting game that he always plays.
Just the same as the other times I’ve been inside his dreams.
How could his dreams be so boring?
Lina
Lina
Are you sure you haven’t spent time with anyone else tonight?
He raises his eyebrows.
Ansel
Ansel
Like who?
Lina
Lina
Oh, I don’t know.
Lina
Lina
Some friends from school?
He shakes his head.
Ansel
Ansel
Nope.
Ansel
Ansel
You’re the only person I’ve seen tonight.
I blush and stare at the floor.
Below me, I see darkness.
I thought I could come inside Ansel’s dreams to find some answers—
Some reason for why he’s been acting so strange.
But so far, I haven’t seen anything.
Lina
Lina
I’ll let you play your game then.
Lina
Lina
See you later!
I lean over and give him a kiss on the cheek.
That’s when I wake up.
I turn to see Ansel beside me.
He’s in a deep sleep.
Spying on him in his dreams has proved nothing so far.
But I know he’s cheating on me!
I lean over him carefully and grab his phone off the nightstand.
When the screen lights up, I see a ton of notifications.
Many of them are from girls.
As usual…
Ansel
Ansel
Lina, what’s going on?
Ansel
Ansel
Why are you awake?
He slowly sits up and rubs his eyes.
I drop his phone onto the floor and act innocent.
Lina
Lina
Sorry, I couldn’t sleep!
He glances down at the floor.
Ansel
Ansel
Did you just drop my phone?
Lina
Lina
No, I think it fell.
He frowns.
He picks up his phone and looks at his messages.
When he sees the names of the girls, he doesn’t react.
Lina
Lina
What are you looking at?
He looks up at me.
Ansel
Ansel
Lina, I know you were looking at my phone.
Ansel
Ansel
Are you still jealous?
I roll my eyes.
Lina
Lina
No!
Lina
Lina
I’m just wondering why so many girls keep talking to you, that’s all!
Ansel
Ansel
I’ve told you a thousand times before…
Ansel
Ansel
Any girl who messages me is just a friend or classmate.
Ansel
Ansel
I’m not interested in anyone but you!
I still don’t buy it.
Something tells me he’s cheating on me.
I want to confront him, but I need proof.
Lina
Lina
I know, I’m sorry.
Lina
Lina
I just had a bad dream, that’s all.
He narrows his eyes at me skeptically.
Ansel
Ansel
You did?
Ansel
Ansel
Do you want to talk about it?
I shake my head.
I slide back under the covers.
Lina
Lina
No, I think I just need some more beauty sleep.
Lina
Lina
Goodnight, Ansel. I’ll see you in the morning!
I close my eyes.
But instead of drifting into my own dream…
I walk back inside Ansel’s dream.
If he’s cheating on me…
Then he would probably dream about other girls, right?
But once I make my way through the darkness…
I just see him sitting there playing video games again!
Lina
Lina
You’re STILL playing video games?!
For once, he puts down the controller and looks at me.
He looks angry.
Ansel
Ansel
What’s wrong with playing video games, Lina?
Ansel
Ansel
At least I’m not dreaming about girls, right?
My eyes widen.
Lina
Lina
Yeah, I suppose…
I sit down beside him.
Lina
Lina
I just thought your dreams would be more exciting.
Lina
Lina
But it’s basically just the same as when you’re awake!
Ansel
Ansel
Exactly! So, why don’t you trust me?
Lina
Lina
Huh?
Lina
Lina
I trust you!
He shakes his head.
Ansel
Ansel
No, you don’t.
Ansel
Ansel
You’ve been looking through my phone…
Ansel
Ansel
And now you’re spying on me!
Lina
Lina
Spying? What are you talking about?
He looks down at the ground.
Ansel
Ansel
I think we should break up.
I know this is just a dream, but my whole body aches at his words.
Lina
Lina
What?! Why would you say that?
Ansel
Ansel
Lina, I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me.
Ansel
Ansel
You mean the world to me, but this is the last straw.
Ansel
Ansel
You’re a horrible dreamwalker.
Dreamwalker?!
How does he know that word?
No one else is supposed to know about dreamwalking.
Lina
Lina
I don’t know what a dreamwalker is.
He rolls his eyes.
Ansel
Ansel
Come on, Lina. You don’t have to play dumb.
Ansel
Ansel
I know you’ve been walking into my dreams and spying on me.
Ansel
Ansel
You think I’m cheating on you for some reason.
Ansel
Ansel
But I’ve been nothing but loyal to you!
I clench my fists.
Lina
Lina
I think I should go.
Lina
Lina
Your dream self is acting crazy.
Ansel
Ansel
This isn’t just a dream, Lina.
He looks up at me.
Ansel
Ansel
I’m a dreamwalker too.
Ansel
Ansel
That’s why I can control my own dreams and make them so normal.
Ansel
Ansel
That’s how I know you’re spying.
What?!
That’s impossible!
Ansel
Ansel
Honestly, you’re horrible at what you do.
Ansel
Ansel
You made it so obvious that you were spying!
Ansel
Ansel
Plus, dreamwalkers aren’t supposed to spy.
Ansel
Ansel
We’re supposed to use our powers to help people.
That’s the same thing my parents always told me…
But I just assumed they said it to keep me out of trouble.
If he knows all this, then he really is a dreamwalker too.
I take a deep breath.
Lina
Lina
I AM using my powers to help people.
He shakes his head.
He knows by “people,” I mean me. Selfish me.
Ansel
Ansel
You’re not who I thought you were.
Ansel
Ansel
So please find someone else to abuse your powers on.
Lina
Lina
Ansel, wait!
I reach over to grab his arm, but he steps away.
Ansel
Ansel
Goodbye, Lina.
Ansel
Ansel
We’re through.
I can feel him starting to wake up…
So I dart back into my own dream.
But by the time I wake…
He’s already packed his things and left.
As tears stream down my face…
I vow to get Ansel back…
By proving to him that I’m a good person.
Because from now on I will always use my dreamwalking powers to help others…
And not to help myself.
Ansel
Ansel