I woke up and it was gone.

What was gone?

I've lost it.

What did you lose?

It.

What is 'it'?

I don't know. But it was important.

What was important about it?

I don't know. But it felt important. I think it was a place.

A place you've been to?

A place I wanted to go. A place I want to go. I'm so scared I won't get there.

Why do you want to go there?

I don't know.

What will you do when you get there?

I don't know.

Have you tried going?

Yes I have. But whenever I get there, I always end up back here. I want to stay there. I don't want to come back here.

Why?

There is no one here but you and I. There is nothing to do here. Everyone else is there.

What will you do there with everyone?

I don't know. I will find out when I figure out how to stay there permanently.

What did you find the last time you went there?

There was a building. A building with many floors. Every floor was exactly the same as the one before it. There were no elevators. The only way up was through the stairs. I didn't really know which floor to go to so I figured I'd go up to the top floor.

Were you the only one there?

No, there were loads of people there.

Did you try to talk to them?

Most people were rushing up the stairs so they weren't up for conversation. There were more people in that building than any floor could fit. I think everyone intuitively understood that so they were all rushing up to the next available floor. A few people that were willing to talk to me said they had come here the same way I did and didn't know where they were supposed to go either. Nevertheless, we kept each other company as we went up the stairs. In a way, it started to bother me less that I didn't know why I was there.

I see.

However, this didn't last long. People kept passing out on the stairs. Bodies dropping like flies as they disappear into the ether. The numbers started to drop as I went up the stairs. A lot of people stopped at various floors to take a break but never got back on the stairs. That was quite frightening to everyone else. Every time someone would get off the stairs, we knew that person wasn't coming back. And even if they did, we would most likely never see them again. Getting off the stairs meant losing all the friends you had made thus far. Some people decided to get off the stairs together so that they could stay together.

Maybe that's what you were looking for in that building. To be in the company of others who had come to the building not knowing what they were looking for.

It's hard to tell. It's really hard to tell. I heard all kinds of stories and theories from the people I met in the building. Some people didn't really care about getting to the top floor because they enjoyed their friends' company so much. Only to end up fighting with the person they gave up the walk for. Some people wanted to keep going up the stairs but felt pressured by their group to stay behind. You could tell they didn't really want to stay behind but they didn't want to walk the stairs alone either. Some stayed with their friends while others let their friends go. Some resented others for feeling pressured to get off. I was a little taken aback by this. Everyone had come to see what was on the top floor. Yet, they had resorted to fighting over the allegiances they formed while on the stairs. I thought they had become friends with each other to make going up the stairs easier. Afterall, they had all come here to figure out why they were in the building in the first place, by going up to the top floor.
I must confess the assumption that we would figure it out at the top floor was somewhat arbitrary. It just seemed ... obvious you know? A lot of people I met denied this. Yet, they never stopped. However, the higher up I myself went up the stairs, the more I started to lose faith in that top floor. Everyone I made friends with had dropped off at various floors. I was alone. I started to feel like there was no point, you know? The people who were still on the stairs didn't talk to me either. I didn't take it personally though. There wasn't anything to say really. None of us knew why we were there. So I just stopped trying to find people to talk to and picked up the pace. Being by myself again, walking up the stairs, it reminded me of being here.

I see

Also, I couldn't really stop for long on any floor.


Why?

The moment I stop to take a break or look around, my heart would start pounding like I was going to have a panic attack or something. It felt like trying to stop your car on a highway.

So how were you able to talk to people?

I talked to them while we were on the stairs.

I see.

By the time I got to the 256th floor, I was completely worn out. Some people encouraged me to keep going but I didn't have it in me anymore. Then I broke down crying and passed out. Then I woke up here. How did I get here?

You've always been here.

What do you mean?

You got lost in another dream again. Now you're awake.

What do you mean? What dream?

Your dream. You found the building, remember? You made it up to the 256th floor this time. But you always abandon your dreams. You always wake up in your dreams before you realize them. Yet, you keep finding new dreams to fall into. And no matter how many dreams you find, you always end up back here.

Those were not dreams. They were real. I worked really hard to get to that building. And walk up all those floors. I still feel the exhaustion from all the toiling. I still remember everything.

Why?

Why what?

Why did you go to that building?

I don't remember. But i know it's important. Why can't I remember?

Because it was a dream.

Have we met before?

Multiple times.

And who are you?

I am the space between you and the next dream. You can choose to stay with me or go on to the next dream. But I must warn you about the next dream. You will leave it. Just like all the previous dreams. When you do, we will meet again.

What happens if I stay here?

You will never lose yourself in a dream again.

Can you help me?

Help you with what?

Help me go back.

There is no back.

I want to go back to my dreams. My life is waiting for me there.

What is your life exactly?

Everything. The memories. The things I've achieved so far. The challenges. The tears. The struggles. Everything I've overcome to get to where I am.

And where is that?

What do you mean?

Where are you?

I don't understand . . .

Everything you have achieved thus far, where has it led you?

Here, I guess.

. . .

What is this place anyway?

It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is that you are here.

So where do I go from here?

Nowhere. It doesn't matter where you go.

Why does it not matter?

Because you'll come back.