short story collection

DREAM

I tried really hard.

I studied through the night every night, never dozing off in class for a total of twelve years—six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, and three years of high school. Perhaps my efforts paid off, as I scored quite high on the college entrance exam, a test that would determine my life, and I confidently secured admission to a prestigious university.

So, I successfully graduated from college and landed a job at the company I truly, truly wanted to work for. My performance was so good that I was consistently recognized as an outstanding employee, and I was consistently promoted. I thought these dreamlike days would last forever, but in an instant, they came crashing down.

Because it really was a dream. One day, I woke up and found myself back at 19. And I was the one who had just botched the college entrance exam.

dream.

1. A mental phenomenon in which one sees and hears various things while sleeping, just as one does when awake.

2. Hopes or ideals you wish to realize

It was a truly absurd dream I'll never have again, but it was such a pleasant dream. I never wanted to come out of it.