The Dream World

“Ugh, grow up,” says Maya, the popular girl. I quickly shut my notebook. “You’re in high school now, you can’t be doodling unicorns.” I hear muffled snickers from my classmates. My face turns red. 

“Just ignore them,” mouths my best friend, Scarlett Thomas. It’s hard though. Normally I would escape into my dream world. I can’t exactly zone out during English class though, especially when we have a test tomorrow. 

Scarlett had it easy. She was fairly popular and got along well with most people. She was easygoing and laid back. She could just brush things off and ignore people who bothered her. 

Me? Not so much. My way of dealing with things was by escaping into my own fantasy world. I was a princess, loved and respected. I spent most of my time with my pet unicorn. No one made fun of me for being childish, for being the only high schooler who still liked unicorns and wore pigtails. My life was perfect in that world. 

“Rosie?” Scarlett nudged me. Welp. I had zoned out.

“Yeah?”

“You ready for the test tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “Probably. Hopefully.”

“Well, you should probably study,” she suggested. “This chapter’s pretty tough.” Her dark eyes were full of kindness and love, like always. She was the one person I knew had my back no matter what. 

The last bell rang, meaning it was time to go home. 

After school, I went straight to my room, to daydream. I twirled my finger through my chocolate-colored hair as I escaped.

There I was, in my palace, my soft pink clothes turned into a beautiful gown. I go to the stables to find my unicorn, Sparkle. I jump on her back. We ride across a rainbow, the wind blowing my hair. So peaceful. So freeing. 

“Rosie?” Sparkle speaks. “Rosie?”

“ROSIE!”

I am shaken back to reality. The voice saying my name hadn’t been my unicorn, but my mom. 

“Dinner’s ready,” she said.

“Oh, thanks.” I said softly. 

I picked at my spaghetti, wanting to go back to my dream world. I want to live there. I want to be the princess I dream of. I want to spend my days riding Sparkle over rainbows. What if…

That night I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t escape to my dream world. 

I got up to get a glass of water, when I heard the floor creak. I turned on my bedside lamp. There was a loose floorboard that I somehow hadn’t noticed until now.

Curious, I slowly lifted it. There were stairs.

Glancing behind one last time, I descended down the stairs into the unknown. 

After walking down the stairs for what felt like forever, I reached a door. I tried the handle, but it was locked. I suddenly felt a weight in my pocket. I hesitantly reached down to see what it was. I was holding a golden key. I turned it in the keyhole and the door swung open. 

This couldn’t be real… 

I was in my palace, in my dream world. I looked down and my pajamas had transformed into a gown the color of cherry blossom, laced with gold. I pinched myself. Was I dreaming? No. This was definitely real. 

Before me stood a man and a woman, dressed like royalty. 

“Rose Johannson,” the woman addressed me. She shimmered like a star, strong yet kind. She radiated a queen-like aura. I bowed. It felt right. 

How did she know my name? I thought. Who is she?

“I am Queen Alexia of the Svarga Kingdom.” She gestured to the man next to her. “And this is King Louis.”

“Wait...so...this place I’ve always dreamed of,” I said. “It’s real? And it’s been under a floorboard in my room this whole time?” 

“Yes,” Queen Alexia responded. “Well, not this whole time. Dreams and imagination have power. You are capable of much more than you realize.” 

I didn’t know how to respond. It was still hard to believe this was real, that I was actually standing here.

“Now you have a choice,” King Louis offered. “You may stay here, but abandon your old life and those you love. Or you may leave and forget this world ever existed.” 

No...no no no. This could not be happening. How would I choose? Abandon everyone I love, abandon Scarlett, the one person I could always count on. Or never escape to this world again.

After pondering for a while, I told the King and Queen. “I’ve made a decision.”

“Hey Scarlett.” I sat down next to my best friend at lunch the next day. 

“Hi!” she said, her eyes sparkling. 

I may not be able to escape to my fantasy world again, but I’m convinced I don’t need to. I have Scarlett, and that’s enough.