Got To Get Those Dream Steps In

20250730

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

Every night I have the same dream. Star-studded yellow sky. Glowing red trees. Screaming.
Not from me. I don’t think it’s coming from the trees, either. It’s just… there. In the background. A distant chorus of a thousand mournful desperate voices. Maybe it’s the stars?
In the dream I don’t really notice the screams, and never think to try and figure out where they’re coming from. I’m too busy jogging.
Not running. There’s nothing chasing me, and nothing I’m trying to get to. I just know, with that serene utter certainty you only get in dreams, that if I don’t manage ten thousand steps before the sun comes up, I’ll die.
Reading that back, it kinda feels like I should still be running if I know that. Dreams for you. It just feels urgent, not terrifying. Like hurrying to catch the bus because if you miss the bus you’ll miss the train and be late for work and your boss will yell at you and you just don’t want to deal with that today.
Except with dropping dead.
Sorry, I’m sure this is boring. Assuming you’re reading this. Assuming you’re up, and didn’t just leave your computer logged in again. I just… I need to vent.
Sorry.
Because last time I worked late I only just filled my pedometer before the sun came up in that alien sky and my alarm went off. I was actually running for the last stretch, proper dashing and pumping my arms to get those last hundred steps in before I ran out of time.
And one time I had trouble getting to sleep and while it wasn’t as close I still woke up with my heart pounding already exhausted.
And now… it’s nearly three in the morning and I’m scared to go to sleep because I know I won’t be able to get those steps done in time.
Which is stupid. It’s a dream. I’m sure it’s just my subconscious mind telling me that I need to be better about getting enough rest, or something.
And it’s totally my own fault. I should know better than to get into something new and interesting before bed. Especially when it’s been described as engrossing. Remember that series you recced? Well, you were right. It’s SO good.
I finally got around to checking it out and promptly binged it until my bladder was threatening to burst and only then did I realise how late it’d gotten.
It would be stupid to stay up all night because I’m scared of failing a dream, right?
Yeah. I’m being stupid.
I guess you’re afk cause you’re not reading these but I’m sure you’d tell me to stop being silly, take a sleeping tab, and get to bed. Three hours sleep is better than nothing, right?
However many dream steps I manage is way closer to 10k than if I don’t even dream lol.
Sorry for dumping this nonsense in your dms god I’m such a mess.
Talk to you tomorrow.

Prompt was the image.