Daron Hogans

Dream Lucid

The narrator often looks at a story in the third person. A two way mirror between the experience and the exercise of control over it. A lucid dream allows that narrator to perceive the world as he sees fit while also accepting the boundaries placed by his own indoctrination. “This is already too heavy. Even if I read 2 pages a minute like a turtle, I’d still have to start this book from the beginning.” He turns the small black book upside down and places it open on his desk because a bookmark is a sign of unfinished thought. It’s the same reason he always ends on even numbered pages. As his eyes readjust to the blueish hue of the fluorescent lamp, he turns to peak at the written note on the wall where his bed is firmly pressed against. The instructions read “One. Picture yourself standing inside of a dark room where all the walls are painted black”. He goes to lay down, making sure his window is wide open, for the cold air sleeps well with him. He checks his phone's alarm settings to make sure it goes off in 6 hours. Right before he turns off his lamp, quickly glancing at the note one last time, and he says in his head “Two. Ask yourself Am I dreaming?” He closes his eyes. This room seems to create a deafening inner ear blare only heard in silence. Opening his eyes, he stares at this black wall in a room that seems to move further and further away from him. He closes his eyes again and repeats the instructions over and over. “Ok, black room, Am I dreaming, look at hands, engage with objects, manifest objects, check the time, pinch your nose.” He quickly grabs his nose but he doesn’t feel his hand touch them. “I’m breathing fine, yes! Ok, let’s go.” He starts jogging down the corridor looking left and right until he sees a window then rushes toward it. He places his forehead against the glass to peer inside. “This feels soft like my pillow” he thought feeling the glass warp due to the force of his pressing. “There it is” he said. He opens the window and climbs through it.