Ironically, lucid dreams, a theme far too familiar to Kai were what kept his sanity at bay; an escape, a second chance, a second world for him to enjoy. They allowed him to better control his life, storytell his unfortunate events into reciprocal stepping stones. It wasn’t delusional, they kept him sane, everyone else was just incapable of understanding this justification.

‘You see, Kai here, retains a unique lifestyle, often contrary to most teenager’s meddling with insomnia. Rather than trouble falling asleep, Kai just so happens to have trouble waking up, more trouble than the average sleep-deprived deep-sleeper.’ In a matter-of-fact tone, his doctor was dumbing down an explanation of Kai’s ‘illness’ to his mum so she wouldn’t freak out. The doctor continued, ‘We find that Kai is likely to possess ‘Idiopathic hypersomnia’. This is due to his tendency to oversleep, whilst still feeling tired afterwords. He also has a minute case Narcolepsy 2, with symptoms of the excessive sleepiness, temporary paralysis and hallucinations.’

‘What can Kai do to maintain a better lifestyle then doctor?’ Kai’s mother questioned in follow up.

‘I’ve prescribed Kai some medication’ the doctor handed Kai’s mother a prescription note. Peering over, Kai could see various polysyllabic words, presumably for illegible medication. ‘I also recommend cognitive behavioural therapy, just to better strengthen his routine. Considering that he doesn’t use devices often nor any illegal substances, it is believed that Kai’s diagnosis is linked to genetics.’

‘Thank you doctor, Kai?’ His mother faced him with an expecting expression contorted upon her visage.

‘…Thanks.’ Kai let it out almost as a reluctant sigh.

‘It’s my pleasure.’ The doctor replied, smiling the routinely farewell.

As they walked out of the room through a hallway, Kai faced the ground, slouching slightly from exhaustion. He knew that most of the exhaustion was but his mood, let out from half-assed movements. Bright colours around him, excessive movement and loud noises - any excessive sensory depictions really - only tired the boy more, making him yearn to be back in bed, sleep and return to his lucid dreams, to his world where everything went right and his way. His. Way.

Exiting the clinic, Kai and his mum made their way to their car. Kai opened the back door and immediately strapped himself in before sprawling over the three back seats and drifting into his desired slumber.

His dream that time, lucid as always, was different this time. Usually recalling everything that happens in his dreams (which he knew led to one of his symptoms of sensory overload), this dream had people he’d never seen before in it. He knew dreams couldn’t have have people he didn’t recognise in it, so who were they? In a circle, he stood with four other boys. None of the, were surprised, and when he questioned them, recalled the same things as him - daily lucid dreams, fatigue, diagnosis of idiopathic hypersomnia, they were all there, experienced. Ironic.

It seemed Kai having his diagnosis just recently, triggered the encounter, leading to the, being ‘destined’ to meet - weird but not the most unusual. For an extended period of time, the members all revealed information, about themselves,having their connection of hypersomnia and narcolepsy, a very rare diagnosis. Soon, they all knew of each other, all but Kai, from South Korea, although Kai’s ethnicity itself was South Korean.

Kai and the boys all agreed on exchanging numbers - just remembering one person’s contact. It was the easiest, considering how random the lucid dreams usually played off as. Words aimlessly filled the realm the boys were in, befor they all, one by one abruptly dissipated out of the endless dome.

‘Kai? Kai! Oh thank goodness!’ His mother yelled, waking Kai from his slumber in the back of the car. ‘You were having one of those ‘not waking up’ moments again. I swear, it always scares me to death.’

‘Well, I’m fine.’ Kai responded.

‘Yes, and that’s good. Here.’ His mother handed him a pill and a water bottle, a translucent auburn. ‘I got from the doctor’s prescription at the pharmacy whilst you were sleeping.’ Kai took the two items, swallowing the pill in aid of the water. ‘They’re actually to stop you from dreaming during your sleep, entirely! So you won’t have those paranormal sensory-activating dreams, the lucid ones!’ His mother said excitedly. Kai stared dumbfounded at her, wide eyed in exasperation.

Nodding, Kai left his mum, going immediately to his bedroom and getting out his phone, typing in some digits into his contacts. It was good he had that one boy’s contact remembered. If what his mother said was true, he was going to have to say farewell to his lucid dreams forever. Or not, and he could pretend take them, fake their effectiveness and have them never enter his house again. Kai bided for the second option. After all, you can never rid of an addiction when one loves it so much can you? Kai’ll have to say farewell another time. Or more so, farewell to the ideal ‘normal’ life. The paranormal lucid dreams were his life anyway. Receiving a notification, Kai saw a text bubble pop up on his phone.

Unknown: hi! Is this Kai? The from America one?

You: yep

Unknown: cool, I’ll add u to a chat with the others.

Kai smiled at his phone’s glowing screen, tightening his grasp on the device. This was what he wanted. Not the ‘normal life’ or his opportunity with it anyway. Kai smiled yet again, dimples forming either side of his cheeks as two words formed themselves in his conscience.

‘Farewell, normal.’