A Dream Deferred

I woke up with a start, my heart racing and my mind reeling from the vivid images that lingered in my brain. It was just a dream, I told myself, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. But as I lay in bed, I couldn't shake the sense that something was off. The details of the dream were still fresh in my mind, from the pulsing light to the woman with green eyes, Elara. I felt a pang of disappointment, knowing that it was all just a product of my imagination. But as I went about my day, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. I had a "date" scheduled with someone, and I was looking forward to it. I didn't know much about the person, but there was something about them that drew me in. As I arrived at the agreed-upon location, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I was right on time, and the person was already there, waiting for me. It was Shinso, and he smiled as he saw me approach. "Right on time," he said, nodding in approval. "Let's go." I followed him, curious about where we were headed. But as we walked, I realized that we weren't going to the warehouse like in my dream. Instead, we were heading towards a movie theater. "Horror movies are my favorite," Shinso said, noticing my raised eyebrow. "And I thought it would be fun to watch one together." I hesitated, feeling a sense of trepidation. I wasn't a big fan of horror movies. They scared me too much, and I often found myself waking up in the middle of the night with nightmares. But Shinso seemed excited, and I didn't want to disappoint him. As we entered the theater, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. The movie was already starting, and the dim lighting and eerie music only added to my anxiety. I tried to push aside my fears, telling myself that it was just a movie. But as the images on the screen began to unfold, I found myself gripping Shinso's arm, my heart racing with fear. The movie was about a group of friends who venture into a haunted house, only to find themselves being stalked by a supernatural entity. The jump scares and creepy atmosphere had me on edge, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. But as I glanced over at Shinso, I saw that he was enjoying himself, a look of excitement and thrill on his face. As the movie ended, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was over, and I could finally breathe again. But as we left the theater, Shinso turned to me with a mischievous grin. "That was fun, wasn't it?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. It wasn't exactly fun, but I had to admit that it was exhilarating in a way. And as I looked at Shinso, I saw that he was genuinely enjoying himself. "Yeah," I said finally, trying to sound convincing. "It was fun." Shinso smiled, seeming to accept my response. But as we walked out of the theater, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this "date" than met the eye. And that the night was far from over.