Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

David had always been a vivid dreamer. As a child, he would often wake up with sweat pouring down his face after being chased by a monster or falling off a cliff in his dreams. However, as he grew older, his dreams became more complex, and he found himself being able to control them. He would fly through the clouds, travel to distant lands, and meet people from different dimensions. But, there was one dream that always haunted him, one that he could never control, and always woke him up gasping for air.

It was a dream about a day that he wished he could change, a day that had ruined his life. In the dream, he was back in college, reliving the day when he had cheated on his final exams. He could feel the same pressure, the same anxiety, and the same sense of desperation that had led him to cheat. He could see the same girl he had cheated off, her eyes staring back at him with disappointment.

He tried to run away from the dream, but it kept coming back, night after night, until he could no longer sleep properly. David knew he had to face his mistake, but he didn't know how. He had already graduated, and he couldn't turn back time. But, one day, as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a voice calling out to him.

"David, David, wake up," the voice whispered.

David opened his eyes and found himself in a strange place. It was a dark room with no windows, and the only light came from a small candle in the corner. He tried to get up, but he realized that his hands and feet were tied up.

"Welcome, David," the voice said again.

"Who are you? Where am I?" David asked, trying to free himself.

"I am the keeper of dreams, and you, my friend, are caught in one of your dreams. You have been reliving the same mistake over and over again, and it's time for you to face it."

David's heart sank. He knew exactly what the voice was talking about.

"What do I have to do?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"You have to relive that day again, but this time, you have to resist the temptation to cheat. You have to face the consequences of your actions and make amends."

David knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had no choice. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to be transported back in time.

David found himself back in college, sitting in the same classroom, with the same girl sitting next to him. He could feel the same pressure building up inside him, the same urge to cheat.

But, this time, something was different. David had a sense of clarity, a sense of purpose. He knew what he had to do. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the girl staring at him.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

David could feel his heart racing, but he knew he had to be honest.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I cheated off you last time, but this time, I won't. I want to do this on my own, no matter what."

The girl looked at him with surprise, but then she smiled.

"Okay," she said. "I believe you."

David felt a sense of relief, and he started to work on the exam, one question at a time. It wasn't easy, but he was determined to finish it on his own.

When the exam was over, he handed it in, feeling a sense of pride that he had never felt before. He had faced his mistake and had come out on top.

David opened his eyes and found himself back in the dark room with the candle. He looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He had faced his mistake and had passed the test, but what did that mean for him now?

"You did it," the voice said, breaking the silence. "You faced your mistake and made amends. You're free to go now."

David felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. He stood up and looked around, but he still couldn't see who the voice belonged to.

"Who are you?" he asked, looking at the candle.

"I am the keeper of dreams, David. I've been watching over you, guiding you through your dreams."

David felt a sense of gratitude towards the voice. "Thank you," he said. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You would have remained trapped in your own dream, David. But, now, you can move on."

David nodded, feeling a sense of closure. He walked towards the door, but before he opened it, he turned back to the voice.

"Wait, one more thing," he said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, David. What is it?"

"Why did you choose me? Why did you choose to help me?"

There was a pause, and David thought the voice wasn't going to answer. But then, he heard it again.

"Because, David, you reminded me of myself. I too, once made a mistake, and it haunted me for years. But, I faced it, and I learned from it. I wanted to help you do the same."

David smiled, feeling a sense of connection to the voice.

"Thank you," he said again, before opening the door and stepping out into the light.

As he walked out, he felt a sense of freedom he had never felt before. He had faced his mistake, and he had come out on the other side. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew that he was ready for whatever came his way.

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