I walk down Colonial Ave. on my way to my favorite coffee shop, Cafe Stella. They’re open from 6:30 a.m.—10 p.m. every weekday, so I’m shocked to see that they’re closed at 11am on a Wednesday. That’s weird, I think to myself as I begin to read the fine print written below the handwritten closed sign.
Sorry for the inconvenience, we will resume regular shop hours tomorr—
I could not read the remainder of the sprawled handwriting before the door began to open. Max, the regular barista at Stella’s now stood in front of me, coaxing me to come inside.
There’s a message awaiting you. It’s important.
Max: “Debra, I’ve been waiting for you to arrive, please come inside. I’ve prepared your favorite drink. A butterfly pea matcha. It’s already getting cold.”
Debra: “Max? Wha…what is this all about? You knew I was coming to the shop today?”
Max: “We don’t have time to chat, you need to come inside. There’s a message awaiting you. It’s important.”
Debra: “What are you talking about? I’ll just come back when you all are open. I’ll be fine without my matcha today.”
Max: “No, you don’t understand. You have to come inside. There’s a message waiting that only you may discern. You’re our customer that orders this drink most frequently and we’ve been informed that there’s some magical property to it.”
Debra: “Really??” My eyes fluttered as I considered the past month that had been filled with new and different oddities.
My skin has had some extra shimmer to it recently. I glint in the sun whenever I step outside. Oh no…could I be a vampire? No, I don’t think that’s what this is about.
The grand piano sat in its regular spot in the corner, a melody trilling from its vacant keys. No one tickled the keys, they danced on their own.
Max: “Debra, are you in? I’m just as curious about this as you must be. Please, come sit, relax, and drink.”
I stepped inside hesitantly, afraid of what was to be unveiled before me. Max was the nice barista who served me my matcha everyday at Stella’s. I looked forward to our daily chit chat and receiving compliments from him on whatever outfit I showed up wearing, but I never thought he’d invite me into the cafe under mysterious circumstances with an ambiguous message awaiting me.
A nice table was set up with the single steeping mug of hot blue matcha waiting just for ME. I was greeted by the regular ambience of the cafe, as if nothing had changed. The grand piano sat in its regular spot in the corner, a melody trilling from its vacant keys. No one tickled the keys, they danced on their own.
Debra: “Max, What’s going on?”
Suddenly, a spotlight shone from the far side of the cafe. The headlights of the model plane hanging from the ceiling came to life, illuminating the table set with my drink where I obediently sat. I found myself sitting across from a figure I had only met once in a dream. I turned back to Max, but he had vanished.
Debra: “Who are you? Is that you Max?!”
Welcome to the dreamscape.
Man: “Welcome to the dreamscape. This is a magical realm housed within Cafe Stella that only a selected few may enter into. You are fortunate enough to be one of the chosen ones.”
The new figure resembled Max. They had the same smile and floppy brown hair, but this man had bright blue eyes in contrast to Max’s flashing green eyes. His features were carved out more than Max’s with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones. He stood slightly taller than Max as well with impeccable posture.
Man: “My name is Roy. I’m connected to Max, but we’re different beings depending on our setting. We retain knowledge of our experiences within each space, navigating between your conventional reality and this alternate universe. Any decisions made here have a direct impact on the conventional reality where you and Max reside.”
Debra: “So you’re Roy, but also Max? Do you have any other names or identities?”
Roy: “Yes, kind of. These are my two primary personas. If I identified other spaces like this one, I’d be able to shapeshift and create other identities for myself as well. When I’m Roy, I have a heightened sensibility to the world around me.”
They saw something I never did.
Debra: “What’s it like? Why does this space exist? And why have we been chosen to be here right now?”
Roy: “I learned about the dreamscape soon after I started working at Stella’s. I’ll admit, the interview process was king of strange, but I never expected to get myself into this sort of gig. I never even knew about this side of myself, but it’s almost like they knew that there was something special about me. They saw something I never did.”
Debra: “Who are 'they'?”
Roy: “I can’t really say, but we can just call them the dreamkeepers. The whole point of the dreamscape is to monitor the desires of those in the outside world. We can enter into people’s dreams and influence what they might choose to do within their reality. It’s very easy for us to detect those with pure intentions. You are one of those rare individuals we come across every once in a while. You have so much to offer, Debra”
My gentle breaths halted for a moment. I redirected my attention to wondering about my alluring environment to the additional perspective given to me on my own identity.
There’s no finite measure to your potential.
What does Roy see that I don’t? I’ve always felt that I lack something. Something important. But what could that something be? Has it been here with me all along?
Debra: “So you have chosen me to enter this space for my pure intent? What do I have to offer? I’m just barely out of college. There’s still so much I have yet to experience. Why should I have this authority over other people’s reality?”
Roy: “Some people never amount to the level of experience that you have to offer right now, Debra. There’s no finite measure to your potential.”
The matcha began to glint and gleam, beckoning me to indulge in the mystic drink. My hands shakily grasped the white mug, and the contents slowly made their way down my throat. Gulp. A moment or two passed. A warmth started to radiate from within me, and I experienced an awakening of my mind’s eye.
Roy: “What do you see? Does it make sense?”
I looked out at the space laid out in front of me. A mirror caught my eye from across the room and I watched my eyes slowly dilate. My vision stretched and waned as I was struck by a fleeting vision. It came quickly, but it was beautiful, harnessing all the hope I ever held towards life.
Debra: “I don’t see anything, yet I see it all.”
I didn’t have to make sense of everything. I found comfort in my ability to exist in a space of heightened sensibility, knowing that anything was possible.
I looked out of the window where everything appeared normal. A golden retriever marched down the street on a walk with their owner. The dog paused in the middle of the sidewalk, turning its head to the cafe and making clear eye contact with me. I jolted, feeling as if I had seen a ghost.
Debra: “Are we visible through the glass?! Is anyone able to see us in here?”
Roy: “No. We can see out but they can’t see us here. To them, nothing appears abnormal about the cafe. It’s just a normal day on Colonial Ave.”
Debra: “How does that work?! I don’t understand.”
But then at once, I let go, giving free reign to my powerful vision. All logic began to exit her mind and I accepted things the way that they were. I didn’t have to make sense of everything. I found comfort in her ability to exist in a space of heightened sensibility, knowing that anything was possible.
Debra: “Wait….it’s starting to make sense.”
I believed in something more powerful than life or truth. There was no truth. This was it.
The large quilted tapestry on the wall began to animate itself before my eyes, swirling around in a fun array of colors and patterns. There was no limit to the colors I could choose to view. They were all present, fading in and out of one another. Closing my eyes, I envisioned one of the delectable passionfruit lemon bars from the pastry case up front, and upon opening, there it was. There was no bound to my mind. This was the first time I ever truly believed in something beyond myself. I believed in something more powerful than life or truth. There was no truth. This was it.
Roy: “I know you’re having fun with this, but I have to bring you back now. You’ll be back in no time though. Just think of a quieter place and you’ll have no problem finding me.”
Debra: “I have to leave? I just started to realize my potential? Why so soon?”
And just like that, my vision started to fade, pulling me deep into a trance. I fought against the great force summoning me back to reality, but it was no use.
A flash of blue gleamed across his eyes for a moment. They stared at one another for a second.
I walk down Colonial Ave. on my way to my favorite coffee shop, Cafe Stella. I get there at 11 every weekday to order my favorite drink. A blue butterfly pea matcha. I arrive, the same as every other day, and am greeted by the same barista who is always there, Max.
Max: “Hey Debra! How are you this morning? I love that cardigan. What can I get for you?”
A flash of blue gleamed across his eyes for a moment. They stared at one another for a second. In an instant, my life became more meaningful than my dream could have ever informed me before.
Debra: “My usual.”
