[ WP ] A new drug let 's you live a lifetime in one dream

Emma stares vacantly into the garden. Plush pink blooms hold their heads high to the steel gray sky. 
 
 Alan swirls his lukewarm coffee, spoon clinking against the sides of the mug. 
 
 `` It'll get cold if you do n't eat it soon. ``, he entreats. 
 
 Emma obliges a bite of his homemade breakfast; over-salted like always. She glances up just long enough to catch Alan's desperate gray eyes behind the sheen of his glasses. He creases a smile and tries again. 
 
 `` You look so tired... can I get you some coffee?'' 
 `` I'm fine, thanks.'' 
 `` Are you sure? It seems you hardly got any sleep. You were turning all night.'' 
 `` I'm sure.'' 
 `` You used to love waking up to breakfast...'' 
 
 The roses bob on a chill breeze. 
 
 Emma sighs, `` I had a nightmare is all. Please do n't worry.'' 
 `` But I do worry... it's not easy to rest with you twisting like that.'' 
 `` I'm sorry.'' 
 
 Alan rises from the table with his empty plate and kisses Emma on the crown of her head. `` You do n't have to apologize... I love you.'' 
 `` I love you too.'' 
 
 As he leaves for the shower, Emma is left with her memories. The past week has been longer than ever. She walks to the cabinet and reaches to the back; the yolk on her plate seeping into cold hash-browns. 
 
 The tea tin is almost empty, enough for maybe two more cups. Emma's hands fret about the edges of the lid before she closes it tightly. The dreams did n't come so easily anymore. Flying on warm updrafts through endless blue skies... it was the only one that still worked. 
 
 The adventures were quaint but quickly grew obvious. The romances were shallow and predictable. Emma hardly thought anymore, there was nothing she had n't thought over a hundred times. 
 
 And yet here she was -- alone in a creaky kitchen waiting for night to come. Waiting to taste the sweet brew. Waiting to dream for what felt like forever. 
 
 The overcast goes dark, and the pink petals begin to close. It's beginning to rain. 
 
 A suspicious Alan returns to the kitchen wearing only a towel. Emma starts, dropping the tin to the floor. She falls with the leaves, trembling. 
 
 Alan almost hesitates.But then, he falls too and embraces Emma. He presses his face against her floral print night gown and begins to cry. He is warm against her skin. 
 
 She looks to the tea leaves scattered to the ground, and then to Alan. 
 
 `` I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. ``, she says. 
 She embraces him back. Emma holds up her head to see his steel gray eyes. 
 
 For the first time in a dozen century, Emma forgets about flying.
