here, yet, I feel complete – content – loved even. There is a huge difference.”
“Not everyone is as connected as the rest. There are some people who are not very empathetic and aren’t comfortable around others. I’ve traveled to many places though and can say that most people live the way we do.”
I couldn’t imagine wanting to leave if I had a choice. I felt like every part of me was better here. I had more energy, I could think clearer, my senses were sharper, and my body simply felt better. Everything here felt right.
There was no way this is a dream. It feels so real – every touch, smell, and sight. My emotions are running wild. Maybe something’s wrong with me? Maybe I have a tumor? Maybe I’m going crazy? What age do you develop schizophrenia? I read that with schizophrenia you become more tired and agitated as well. I had been feeling fatigued lately...Oh no!
Orion must have seen the anxiety written all over my face. He placed his hand on my shoulder, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“There’s something wrong with me! I’m losing my mind! Why do I keep dreaming of this place? Why do I see you when I sleep? Why does this place feel more real to me than my own world?!” I blurted out.
Why does my heart race when I’m close to you and I drown in these new intense feelings? Why do I long to be here when I’m awake? Why do you consume all my thoughts during the day and my dreams during the night? I shouldn’t feel this way! It’s wrong on so many levels. I feel so lost...
My vision blurred as I fought back the urge to cry. Frustrated and flustered, I jumped to my feet to flee. Orion caught my arm and gently glided his hand down to mine.
“Hey, wait, calm down. Please don’t go,” he begged.
I quickly stopped. All he had to do was take a breath and I would have stopped for him.
“I swear Alexis this is real. I am real.” He took my hand and placed it against his chest. “Can’t you feel my heartbeat?”
I felt the gentle thuds against his chest and the sturdy muscles under his shirt pressed against my hand. My previous hysteria disappeared, as did all my thoughts. My body was vibrating. Warmth spread throughout.
Focus Alexis.
“Trust me. I don’t know how or why, but this is real. We’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“I trust you,” I answered, with my hand still on his chest.
I took a step closer. This was the closest I’d been to him; the closest I’ve been to any guy besides Mitchell. He moved closer in return and then it hit me like a punch in my gut. His scent filled my lungs and sent my stomach swimming with excitement. It wasn’t cologne. It wasn’t anything I could describe… it was just… him. I felt dizzy… intoxicated. My mind clouded over and I lost all sense of reality. The world stood still and everything disappeared but him and me. In that moment, I felt it.
That’s crazy. I know nothing about him. How can I lov…. What am I thinking?!
I held my breath and pulled back, pointing my gaze to the ground. This wasn’t love. I was not stupid enough to fall for someone who wasn’t even real.
“Alexis?” he spoke.
The words rolled off his tongue like silk and echoed through my entire body. I looked up to meet his gaze. My chest tightened and my heart went racing. Real or just a dream, I knew then that I would never be the same. He was my drug and I would always crave to be near him, but he could never be mine.
Suddenly, the excitement turned to trepidation. Fear crept up my throat and my hands began to tremble. I turned around and it was pitch black. I blinked several times, confused from the darkness. I turned back towards Orion but only saw the silhouette of my headboard. I looked down at the bed in confusion. I was awake and it was still night, but Mitchell was not lying next to me.
I heard shuffling near the bedroom door.
“Mitchell?” I called with a shaky voice.
There was no answer. I held my breath and stared
“Not everyone is as connected as the rest. There are some people who are not very empathetic and aren’t comfortable around others. I’ve traveled to many places though and can say that most people live the way we do.”
I couldn’t imagine wanting to leave if I had a choice. I felt like every part of me was better here. I had more energy, I could think clearer, my senses were sharper, and my body simply felt better. Everything here felt right.
There was no way this is a dream. It feels so real – every touch, smell, and sight. My emotions are running wild. Maybe something’s wrong with me? Maybe I have a tumor? Maybe I’m going crazy? What age do you develop schizophrenia? I read that with schizophrenia you become more tired and agitated as well. I had been feeling fatigued lately...Oh no!
Orion must have seen the anxiety written all over my face. He placed his hand on my shoulder, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“There’s something wrong with me! I’m losing my mind! Why do I keep dreaming of this place? Why do I see you when I sleep? Why does this place feel more real to me than my own world?!” I blurted out.
Why does my heart race when I’m close to you and I drown in these new intense feelings? Why do I long to be here when I’m awake? Why do you consume all my thoughts during the day and my dreams during the night? I shouldn’t feel this way! It’s wrong on so many levels. I feel so lost...
My vision blurred as I fought back the urge to cry. Frustrated and flustered, I jumped to my feet to flee. Orion caught my arm and gently glided his hand down to mine.
“Hey, wait, calm down. Please don’t go,” he begged.
I quickly stopped. All he had to do was take a breath and I would have stopped for him.
“I swear Alexis this is real. I am real.” He took my hand and placed it against his chest. “Can’t you feel my heartbeat?”
I felt the gentle thuds against his chest and the sturdy muscles under his shirt pressed against my hand. My previous hysteria disappeared, as did all my thoughts. My body was vibrating. Warmth spread throughout.
Focus Alexis.
“Trust me. I don’t know how or why, but this is real. We’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“I trust you,” I answered, with my hand still on his chest.
I took a step closer. This was the closest I’d been to him; the closest I’ve been to any guy besides Mitchell. He moved closer in return and then it hit me like a punch in my gut. His scent filled my lungs and sent my stomach swimming with excitement. It wasn’t cologne. It wasn’t anything I could describe… it was just… him. I felt dizzy… intoxicated. My mind clouded over and I lost all sense of reality. The world stood still and everything disappeared but him and me. In that moment, I felt it.
That’s crazy. I know nothing about him. How can I lov…. What am I thinking?!
I held my breath and pulled back, pointing my gaze to the ground. This wasn’t love. I was not stupid enough to fall for someone who wasn’t even real.
“Alexis?” he spoke.
The words rolled off his tongue like silk and echoed through my entire body. I looked up to meet his gaze. My chest tightened and my heart went racing. Real or just a dream, I knew then that I would never be the same. He was my drug and I would always crave to be near him, but he could never be mine.
Suddenly, the excitement turned to trepidation. Fear crept up my throat and my hands began to tremble. I turned around and it was pitch black. I blinked several times, confused from the darkness. I turned back towards Orion but only saw the silhouette of my headboard. I looked down at the bed in confusion. I was awake and it was still night, but Mitchell was not lying next to me.
I heard shuffling near the bedroom door.
“Mitchell?” I called with a shaky voice.
There was no answer. I held my breath and stared
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