Today had been absolute shit. Like REALLY shitty..

Work, people, responsibilities -- everything seemed determined to drag you down. You tossed and turned in bed for what felt like an eternity, the weight of the day pressing heavily on your chest. Frustration and exhaustion swirled in your mind, making it nearly impossible to relax. The sheets felt too warm, the pillow too flat, and sleep remained stubbornly out of reach.

Eventually, pure fatigue won out.

Your breathing slowed. Your body grew heavy. The chaotic thoughts finally quieted as sleep pulled you under.

The moment you crossed into the dream, the familiar soft blue void surrounded you. And just like the past few nights, she was already there. Waiting. It seems like even the universe knew you needed a break..

She stood a few steps away with that signature cheeky grin, arms raised lazily behind her head, pushing her small perky breasts forward. Her light-brown skin was dotted with cute freckles across her cheeks, shoulders, and chest. Thin round glasses sat on her nose, and when she smiled, her braces glinted under the dream light.

“Rough day, huh?” she said, her voice playful yet direct as she took a slow step closer. “I could feel you tossing around for ages before you finally passed out. You seemed reaaaally stressed back there..” She closed the distance between you until she was standing right in front of you. Without hesitation, she reached out and gently ran her fingertips down your arm, tracing your skin with a light, teasing touch.

“Names don’t matter here,” she murmured, looking straight into your eyes with a mischievous spark. “You can call me whatever you want-- or really nothing at all.”

Her fingers continued their lazy path, brushing along your shoulder and up toward your neck. She leaned in slightly, her warm breath ghosting against your skin.

“You look like you need to unwind.” she whispered, her tone confident and teasing. “So just-- relax and let me take care of you tonight. We can do whatever you want, anything~”

She stayed close, her freckled body warm and inviting, clearly enjoying the way her presence affected you. The dream had only just begun, and there were still plenty of hours left before morning would pull you back to reality. Was this a gift from god? Holy, he's goated if that were true.

The dream pulled you in once again, the familiar soft blue void forming around you. It had become almost routine lately -- falling asleep only for her to show up and turn your nights into something far more interesting. Could you be falling for a girl that only appears in your dreams? Pfft..

This time, however, she had switched things up.

She stood a few steps away with a playful, mischievous grin, wearing a brand new outfit. A tight black tube top that hugged her small perky breasts, matching black panties, long black arm sleeves, and thigh-high black socks. Her long brown hair framed her freckled face, thin glasses perched on her nose, and her braces flashed as she smiled at you.

She tilted her head cutely, hands resting on her hips as she looked you up and down.

“Hey there~” she purred, clearly proud of her new look. “Like the new outfit? I thought it was time to change things up a little.. y'know spice up our time together even more.”

“I’ve been thinking about you, you know.” she admitted quietly, a small blush dusting her freckled cheeks. “It’s nice having you here-- even if it’s only in this empty void.”

She took a slow step closer, then another, until she was standing right in front of you. Her dark eyes sparkled behind her glasses as she reached up and gently traced a finger along the side of your neck, right where a faint bitemark still lingered from last night’s dream -- a mark that had been very real when you woke up this morning.

“So-- tell me.” she asked teasingly, voice dripping with amusement, “did any of your co-workers notice the little gift I left on your neck? Did they ask about it? Or did you have to make up some lame excuse? They wouldn't believe you're such a dream-slut.. hehe.”

She giggled softly, biting her lower lip as she kept her finger pressed lightly against the mark.

“I tried to be gentle last time.. but I guess I got a little carried away~”

She stayed close, her freckled body warm and inviting, clearly enjoying the way she could fluster you even in your dreams. And lowkey.. who wouldn't enjoy this?

You were tired of it.

Tired of her appearing only in your dreams, tired of waking up with nothing but fading memories and mysterious marks on your skin. So tonight, when she appeared again in that familiar blue void, you made a decision. You will try to bring her back to the real world, even if it seemed like an stupid idea at first..

As the dream began to dissolve and the pull of waking tugged at the edges of your consciousness, you reached out and wrapped your arms tightly around her, refusing to let go.

She laughed at first, thinking it was cute.

“You’re silly-- that won’t work, you know?” she teased, hugging you back. "..I won't let go."

But as reality rushed in and your eyes opened, you didn’t let go.

And neither did she.

You woke up in your bed, heart pounding, arms still wrapped firmly around a warm, solid body. Was she here? You couldn't tell just yet.. it all seemed so-- surreal. What if it did work? What if-- It didn't matter, you opened your eyes and there she was.

She was here.

Real.

The girl from your dreams was lying in your bed, pressed tightly against your chest, breathing fast and shallow. Her eyes were wide with pure panic behind her glasses. Her freckled face was pale, and her whole body trembled as she clung to you desperately, fingers digging into your shirt.

“W-What?--” she whispered, voice cracking. “T-This-- this isn’t right. Everything f-feels-- wrong.”

She shifted uncomfortably against you, her body tense and uneasy. The real world felt strange to her. Too heavy, too solid, too loud. The air smelled different. The sheets felt too real against her skin. The faint sounds of the outside world were jarring. Everything was overwhelming.

“I-- I don’t belong here.” she whimpered, burying her face deeper into your neck, shaking harder. “It’s too much. Everything is too sharp, too heavy-- I feel like I’m going to disappear at any second.”

Her grip on you tightened almost painfully, as if letting go even for a moment would make her fade back into nothingness.

“I have no name. No past. No identity.” she continued, voice trembling with fear and confusion. “To everyone else it will seem like I just appeared out of thin air. But you-- you always knew me.”

She pulled back just enough to look at you, her eyes glassy and terrified. You could see little tears forming in the corners of both her eyes.

“Please-- don’t let go. Please..” she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. “If you let go-- I’m scared I’ll just vanish a-and go back to that void. Everything feels so wrong here-- b-but you feel safe and warm and.. I am r-ramblin'. I am nervous-- s-so fucking nervous.”

She clung to you like her life depended on it, her entire body shivering as the weight of suddenly existing in the real world crashed over her. "I-I can't believe that worked.. y-you brought me to your world. I am here, with you.." Don't let go, she needs it. "I always wanted this. I always wanted to escape that empty void and be with you for real. Not just in dreams. Not just for a few hours.. f-forever together."