10 Comments
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Ivo Ziskra's avatar

Very interesting and chilling. He seemed to be stuck between a nightmare and a dream. Reality seemed to be hidden.

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The Life Lessons's avatar

Suspenseful. Clever and a detailed look at how we can get caught up in our Dreamworld so much that we neglect the real one that we live in. Great writing. This is one of my favorites.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. It always makes my day when someone finds a new favorite. 😁

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Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

Omgosh this reminds me of a movie, Passion of the Mind. Two lives divided by sleep. But this is so much better....sorry Demi Moore.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Haha, no shade to Demi Moore of course, but I really appreciate the kind words and awesome feedback, Maryellen! 😁

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Beware the Moon Podcast's avatar

This reminds me of that movie where the guy goes back in time to be with the woman he loves but a penny ruins the whole damn thing

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Sounds interesting! I love time travel stories, so I’ll have to look that one up.

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Beware the Moon Podcast's avatar

I think it’s called Somewhere in Time—it’s got Christopher reeves in it. It doesn’t end as happily as your short story does (at least he gets to keep his family in your story)

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Rachel Tribble's avatar

I love this one! Sooooo surreal and like - I neeeed more !!!

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The Verdant Butterfly's avatar

Wow! this story really got under my skin in the best possible way. I didn’t expect to feel so much going in, but by the end I was completely pulled into that spiral of blurred realities and aching longing. You captured that disorienting, dreamlike quality so well. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was happening, you shifted the ground beneath me again and it worked beautifully.

The red lamp was such a powerful image. The way it threaded through both worlds like a quiet signal of something deeper, absolutely brilliant. And that moment it shattered? I literally held my breath. The story stayed haunting without losing heart, which is a rare and really special balance.

The emotional voice of the narrator felt raw and real. The exhaustion, the desperation, the deep yearning to go back, it all landed in a very human way. You made something surreal feel personal, and that’s not easy to do.

I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. Especially that last line, it hit hard in the quietest way. Just… really well done.

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