Dreams and imagination are the foundation of human existence.
Without them, we would not be human at all. We would survive, yes… but only as a creatures driven by instinct.
No different from animals.
Or perhaps even less.
"Oh?"
A voice interrupted from across the room.
"But how can you be so sure about that, Doctor?"
The interviewer leaned forward slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
The man on the screen adjusted his glasses, a faint smile forming.
"Well, if we look back at history, we can see a pattern. The human brain evolved not just to survive… but to imagine beyond survival."
He paused.
"Our ancestors learned from nature. Fire,
for example… was not created. It was discovered. A forest burned after lightning struck, and from that destruction, knowledge was born."
The screen flickered slightly as the program continued.
"From there, evolution was not just physical… it became intellectual. Slowly, over thousands of years, humans built civilizations."
The interviewer nodded.
"But innovation has slowed down in modern times, hasn't it?"
The doctor's smile deepened.
"That's where it becomes interesting."
He leaned closer to the camera.
"We are no longer just creating what we need. We are creating what we imagine."
A brief silence.
"Think about it. Flying machines, artificial intelligence, virtual worlds… these were once nothing more than dreams."
His tone lowered.
"But what if… those dreams were never truly ours?"
The room seemed quieter.
"What if the ideas we believe are born in our minds… are actually being fed into them?"
The interviewer blinked.
"…Fed? By what?"
The doctor's eyes didn't waver.
"Perhaps reality is not what we think it is."
A pause.
"What if the images we see in our dreams… are fragments of a different reality?"
The screen glitched for a split second.
"And what if—"
"Mani!"
The voice cut through the room sharply.
"Turn off the TV! It's 12 a.m. You have school tomorrow!"
Mani blinked.
"Okay, Ma…"
He grabbed the remote and switched off the television. The room fell into silence.
Only the faint hum of the ceiling fan remained.
He lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The doctor's words echoed in his mind.
What if those dreams were never yours?
Mani frowned slightly.
"Is that even possible…?"
He turned to his side.
"I don't know… but sometimes…"
His voice faded into a whisper.
"…it really does feel like I'm living inside a glitch."
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.