Jérémy Chapi :
In the distance, I saw Earth floating in the vastness of space as I drove a bus filled with the people dearest to me. I tilted the vehicle to face the planet so everyone could admire the breathtaking view — one I could never grow tired of.
My daughter came to sit beside me, placing a warm, reassuring hand on my shoulder. My little sister, Evangelyne, sat on my lap, lifting her ruby-colored eyes toward me as her blond hair drifted softly in the weightlessness.
When I turned around, I saw my grandparents, as well as my best friend and her child, all absorbed in the sight of Earth through the giant windows.
But when my gaze searched for my parents, an odd unease washed over me.
Their faces were nothing but smooth, empty shapes — as if they had been erased.
I didn't understand what was happening, and a quiet dread crept through my chest.
Outside, I noticed other buses drifting through space, following the same path as ours. Yet their windows remained opaque, preventing me from seeing who — or what — was inside.
Suddenly, a small red raptor figurine darted across my vision. I caught it mid-air, and the moment my fingers closed around it, everything vanished.
Only the tiny dinosaur remained, floating before my eyes. Its thin feathered crest and tail gave it a cute yet strange appearance.
Then I noticed my own fingers were distorted — unreal, malleable.
A sudden realization struck me:
I was dreaming.
Yes… this is a dream.
I need to take control of it.
The scenery wavered, but with effort I managed to stabilize it, seizing control. I created large white wings, majestic and feathered, and leapt into the air, flying toward a familiar place hidden somewhere in the strange, silent expanse of the dreamworld.
As I ascended, fragments of my day flashed around me, as if I were flying through a tunnel illuminated by projectors replaying every moment, every detail I had lived.
Faces of the people I had crossed paths with appeared briefly — some surprised, others fearful — hard to tell.
At last, I exited the tunnel through a door adorned with golden branches and crystal blue leaves.
The moment I stepped through, I found myself in a vast land made of soft clouds. My wings vanished instantly, but I remained perfectly lucid.
Around me stretched ancient ruins, magnificent pillars finely carved, and old doorframes glowing faintly in this splendid realm. Mystical blooming trees dotted the landscape — some made of wood, others of colorful glass.
Above, a spectacular sky spread endlessly, a galaxy shimmering with passing comets.
Even though it was only a dream, a faint citrus scent lingered in the air, soothing and enchanting.
This place — one I had seen so many times — calmed my heart instantly.
I looked around… but she wasn't there.
A pang of sadness tightened my chest.
"Are you here, Séléné?"
I cried out with all my heart, hoping she would hear me, that she would appear.
But nothing.
She must have been busy as well.
I decided to wait for her.
I lay down on the cloudy ground, arms crossed behind my head, hoping she would eventually come to me. Searching for her was pointless — this world was far too vast.
I couldn't say how long I remained there, lost in the contemplation of the sky.
Then suddenly, a head popped up right above mine.
Startled, I sat up far too quickly, and our foreheads collided with a loud crack.
"Ow! That hurts!" the person exclaimed, rubbing their forehead. Still groggy, I rubbed mine too before turning to see who it was.
And then I recognized her:
Elowen Vinogradov.
A young woman with luminous sapphire-blue eyes and mid-length brown hair that floated slightly above the cloudy ground. Her delicate features and gentle smile seemed almost unreal in this dreamlike scenery.
"Why do you always try to sneak up on me like that?" I asked, still dazed.
She giggled softly.
"I just wanted to say hi — hitting you wasn't part of the plan."
She sat down beside me casually, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"Are you alright?" I asked, studying her face.
She nodded with a small smile.
"I'll survive…"
"Have you seen Séléné by any chance?" I asked, hopeful.
She shook her head.
"No, I haven't seen her in a while. And you know how hard it is to cross paths with her like that.
But… my father came to speak to you."
I smiled. "Yes… it's still strange to think he's your father. Sometimes it feels like this world is way too small."
She leaned gently against my shoulder.
"You really think so? I'd say it's more like invisible threads connect all of us," she murmured, settling more comfortably.
"If you say so… So we really will see each other in two days," I replied, lost in thought.
I had never actually seen a real picture of her; I only knew her dream-world appearance.
She hesitated, then asked with a trembling voice:
"Promise me you won't look at me differently when we meet?"
I felt the anxiety in her question. I placed a reassuring hand on her head.
"Your father already told me about your condition, and everything you've achieved despite it. He even told me how proud he is of you."
In truth, I had known about her physical state long before her father mentioned it, and I understood why she felt self-conscious. After all, she too was part of the serum project.
She lowered her eyes, then lifted her gaze back to mine — intense, unwavering.
"All of this… I could only do it because of him. He always gave me everything I needed, despite my struggles. But me… when will I ever be able to give anything back? That's why I want your remedy."
Her voice, soft yet firm, vibrated with determination.
I frowned, my heart torn between the will to help her and the awareness of the danger it represented.
"You know the risks better than I do. This remedy… it will make you suffer like never before. It could even kill you. Wait just a bit longer — we could reduce the side effects, and…"
I grabbed my left arm, feeling the surge of pain — even here, in the dreamworld — a pain that could pull me out of the dream at any moment.
She seized my hand tightly, her gaze locking onto mine with fierce insistence.
"I know all of that, Jérémy! But the life I'm living… it's not the one I want. I refuse to depend on anyone forever. I refuse to be chained inside my own body. Please, Jérémy… give it to me. You promised!"
Her determination struck me deeply.
I knew how much she longed for independence, for a life she considered "normal."
But after all the discussions with Natali and Vivian, a question haunted me:
Who was I to judge what is normal, from a human perspective?
The weight of the responsibility crushed me.
But she was the reason we had created the serum — the reason we had come this far.
For her… and for all those who suffer.
"You really are stubborn," I sighed with a tired smile. "Alright… but here's what I propose: we'll talk about it at dinner, with your family. I can't carry this decision alone, Elowen. Your father… he would hate me for what I'm going to do to you, you understand?"
She stared at me intensely.
"That's exactly why I'm asking you. Because if I could do it myself, believe me, I would. And besides… I'm sure everything will be fine. We worked on it together, didn't we?"
I looked at her — but this time, my smile was gone.
I knew what she would face if we ever reached that point.
After our intense conversation, we remained for a long time in the dreamworld, talking about everything and nothing.
Our discussion drifted toward what was happening at the base, small daily details, anecdotes Elowen shared with that light, gentle humor that was so uniquely hers.
But deep inside, I still hoped to glimpse a presence even dearer to me.
A presence whose memory remained blurred, as if erased by time and pain.
I waited in silence for Séléné… hoping her image would appear, even briefly.
But the reality of the dreamworld was merciless.
Despite all my efforts, despite this place where we had so often met… she did not come.
I felt the weight of her absence — a void reminding me how much she meant to me, even though I could only visit her here on rare occasions.
Sensing my fleeting sadness, Elowen placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"She'll come back, you know," she whispered, her voice tender and warm.
I nodded, attempting to hide the part of me that ached in her absence.
"Yes, I know."
The dreamworld, with its shifting landscapes and soothing atmosphere, surrounded us — yet a lingering feeling whispered to me that my path toward her was far from over.