Trees and bushes rustled in the soft wind as Layla strolled along a grey and brown path in a green nightgown. Its tiles didn't exactly match the pink flowers on its sides, she discovered.

Maybe cold grey would work? She looked over at a green tree and back at the new tiles. She smiled. Much better. She continued to walk until she came to the end of the park. Only short grass grew there. A whole landscape ready for her to form and build on.

She was ready to get started, but stopped when she heard a familiar whisper. "It's just a dream..."

It came from beyond the edge of her dream. Should I even bother? she thought. He takes me for some illusion.

"It's just a dream." Now the words were a statement, confident and steady.

It had been more than a week since Layla had met Rhyan. She couldn't restrain her curiosity and walked through an arch. On the other side, Rhyan stood tall and muscular with only a pair of white sweatpants. Although the air around him was dark and thick with shadows, he stood his ground with closed eyes and a faint smile.

Rhyan opened his eyes without noticing her gaze. Every shadow melted away in the darkness as the floor began to fill with stars. They rose through the air and soon surrounded them.

They stood in silent wonder until their gazes met. Rhyan's midnight blue eyes were filled with relief. She couldn't hide a smile.

"You're back," he said, returning her smile.

"I am." She crossed her arms. "Why can't you simply accept that I'm as real as you?"

"How could I? I've only seen you in my dreams. Same as those bloody nightmares. Are you going to tell me those are real too?"

"They are only real here, in your dream. When you wake they are simply memories. But I am real."

Stars around them shimmered as Rhyan pondered her words.

"Let me prove it," Layla said. "My full name is Layla Wethery. Google me when you wake up. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure. I will."

They stood for a moment in tense silence before Rhyan spoke again.

"Earlier you said that if I talked to you about my nightmares, they would disappear... Does the offer still stand?" He shuffled his feet.

"That might not have been exactly what I said. But yes, I'll listen."

When Layla sat down amongst the stars, Rhyan mimicked her, took a deep breath and looked down at his hands. "About four months ago I... I almost drowned. I knew it was stupid to go swimming when the waves were as high as they were... But I did it anyway. When I dived from the bridge I must've hit my head on a rock or something. Everything went black and cold. I remember I couldn't breathe or reach the surface." He paused to take a few calming breaths. "It felt like hours went by until I was able to breathe again." His eyes had turned red and gleamed with tears ready to fall. "If it hadn't been for Iris, my sister, I don't think I would have made it out of the water in time."

They sat in silence for a moment before Rhyan met Layla's gaze.

"Have you talked to anyone else about that day?" Layla asked in a soft voice.

"No... Not even Iris. I say I'm fine whenever someone asks me how I feel... " He dried the tears from his eyes. "But I'm not, I've never been since."

"You don't have to be fine."She laid a hand on his shoulder and waited for his breaths to steady. "How does it feel now, when you've talked about it?"

"I don't know... Maybe like something inside me has relaxed? Does that make sense?"

"It does." She gave him a warm smile.

Rhyan was the first to break the following silence. "Thank you for helping me. Is there anything I can do in return?"

"Any time." She smiled. "You don't happen to know how to fly? I've been trying for ages, but I don't seem to be able to."

A wide smile spread across Rhyan's face. "Of course! It's the best bloody feeling in the world!" He got a longing and distant expression in his blue eyes. He snapped out of it, back to the present and continued. "We should go somewhere else." He rose and looked around. "Let me try that arch thing..."

When he turned once more, Layla followed suit. A red brick arch had appeared in the star-filled space. From its other side shone a soft light. As she stepped through it and emerged on a mountainside, she marveled in the fresh cool air and bright blue sky, patterned with sunset clouds.

The calm around didn't stand a chance against the excitement within her. "Okay, how do I do this, Rhyan?"

"The first thing you should do is a... What did you call it? A reality check? Being sure you're in a dream makes the fear of falling less intense."

"Okay..." The thought of falling was unsettling, yet her excitement wasn't diminished. Layla pinched her nose and breathed through it effortlessly. "Definitely a dream," she concluded with a smile. "Now what?"

"Convince yourself you can fly. Since it's a dream, everything is possible and nothing can hurt you. Whatever laws of physics you know, throw them out a window, they don't apply here. Okay?"

Layla nodded.

"Now, there's either the slow and boring way, or the fun and crazy way to get your feet of the ground." A wicked smile covered his face from ear to ear. It was clear which of the ways he suggested. Layla followed Rhyan over the short soft grass to the cliffside. Far below snaked a silver river.

"Is it now falling comes into the picture?" Layla asked, eyeing the empty air in front of them.

"Only if you forget what I've told you." Rhyan winked at her and stepped over the edge. Layla let out a gasp. Moments later Rhyan soared up. He let out a laugh and a "Whoo-hooo!" before coming to a steady hover in front of her. "Look towards where you want to go and do whatever feels right at the moment." He gestured towards the cliff. "Whenever you're ready."

Layla inched closer to the edge until her toes left the grass. This is a dream. Everything is possible and nothing will hurt me.

She spread her arms and tipped forward. Fly, she told herself.

Her green nightgown flapped around her as the river came closer. Fly. A strong gust of wind took hold of her as if she'd been a leaf. She tumbled and spun for a moment before locking her eyes on Rhyan to gain control of her direction.

She let out a half exhilarated, half mad laugh. "I'm flying!"

The air bore her like water, making her weightless. But unlike in water, she didn't need her arms or legs to move in the open air. The sensation of falling was still in her body. It's like choosing which direction to fall. Her mind was as clear as only air can be after heavy rain. She was free, completely and unlimitedly free.

Rhyan flew to her side. "How does it feel, Layla?"

"Like I never want to do anything else!" An urge to have a closer look at the river came over her. She began to sink towards it. As she got lower she felt how she began to wake up. Quickly she rose higher, back towards Rhyan, but the deed was done.

"Rhyan!" she called. "I'm waking up! Remember my name; Layla Wethery."

"I'll remember," he said seriously. "Layla Wethery."

She smiled and locked her hazel eyes with his midnight blue. "I hope we'll meet again."

The dream quickly gave way to reality as the sight of Rhyan was swapped to her morning lit room.

Later that day she received a message on facebook from a Rhyan Rivers.

Hey! This might sound completely crazy, or expected. I hope it's the latter. Is it you I've been meeting in my dreams?

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A/N: Have you ever been able to fly in a dream? What did it feel like?

This is the last chapter. Thank you for reading this far. Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed it and remember that any and all comments and feedback are worth gold to me.

Sweet dreams!