“I’ve never seen anything like this,” I said, walking through the dreamscape.

“It is a place very few have seen,” said my guide, “in fact, you and I are the only ones.” His voice was high pitched, theatrical, perhaps classically trained.

He stopped to pluck something from a low hanging branch. Displaying it in his open palm, the fruit suddenly burst open, revealing a cheeseburger, which was now sitting happily on a plate, a plate which now featured french fries, ketchup.

A young boy thrust a glass of beer into my hand, “I think I may be dreaming,” I said, forgetting briefly about the beer. Glancing at my hand, it was gone.

My guide looked to the ground, apparently saddened by my realization, “So that is how you feel? Am I nothing more than an illusion to you? And this place?” His eyes met mine, “Do you think it fair that, upon waking, your life continues, while mine is snuffed out like a candle’s flame?” Suddenly angry, he shouted, “is your life so much worthier than mine?”

Awake, I answered, “no.”