Dreamscape: personal space

This painting was a part of my choose your own adventure book, You Control the Dream. This book takes the reader through scenarios from my nightmares, allowing them to choose between two options on each of the 70 pages. Like a dream, the plot circles and loops, and the only way to end the dream is to close the book. The title gives a false sense of control, because while the reader can choose between A or B, there is no way to avoid unsafe situations, and there is no way to complete the story.

You go upstairs and recognize the space. Rows of cubicles fill the room, colorful curtains offering a pretense of privacy for the people renting each “apartment,” if you can call an eight by eight foot cubicle an apartment. Each is fitted with a murphy-style twin bed and set of drawers, and besides that look completely unique from each other. You make your way to a familiar cubicle on the northeast side of the building. Cluttered and tiny, you couldn’t see a more beautiful site: a space of your own. How long have you been renting this apartment? How long has it been since you have slept here? You’re so tired and want to crawl into your safe space and sleep, but a glowing light draws your attention to the stairs. You can go to sleep or follow the light upstairs. Which do you choose?